Neil Cutler

[eamonn]

That can be left to John Carew.

[SoccerHQ]

He came on for about the last 10 minutes in this game and his first touch was nearly an Enckelman.

I only skimmed through that but it made me reconsider our time under Gregory. My memory of us then is that we were really negative, but that shows us playing Merson, Carbone and Joachim in attack and we zipped it around nicely. It must be the surrender in the Cup Final that's tainted my view. Or it could be that Middlesbrough were shite.

Also, though I sympathise with the way his life has turned out, Gascoigne could be a real prick.

We were really poor that season up to xmas, JG was really close to being sacked after losing to Coventry (Robbie Keane scored the winner).

There was a comeback win v Sheffield Wednesday that changed things and we started playing really well afterwards. That Leeds cup game when Merson drew blood is one of my favourite Villa games ever.

I mentioned it in the recent Doug Ellis thread but I think the 2000 cup defeat was a major turning point in our recent history. All our good players wanted to leave after that game and we gradually went from one of the biggest clubs in the country to just also rans on the pitch.

[jwarry]

Just listened to his interview.  He speaks well, very much like Smith.  He said so far he has worked on distribution and transition more than anything else -  more gobbledygook   ;_)

[Drummond]

Just listened to his interview.  He speaks well, very much like Smith.  He said so far he has worked on distribution and transition more than anything else -  more gobbledygook   ;_)

Cutler Out!

No point working on distribution if you don't have possession. He needs to teach him how to bloody catch first.

[chrisw1]

I think I'd be working mainly on crosses if I was him.  His shot stopping is ok and distribution not too bad.

[Ads]

I think confidence is having a big effect.

If Bruce had not played a plodding defensive midfielder at centre half things may have been different.

[kippaxvilla2]

True, but I still maintain that if you are really any good, you wouldn't have been plying your trade in the German 2nd Division at the age of 27.

[Drummond]

True, but I still maintain that if you are really any good, you wouldn't have been plying your trade in the German 2nd Division at the age of 27.

Keepers do mature later.... And it's the English 2nd Division he's now in, not a huge step up.

[kippaxvilla2]

Obviously, I want him to do well.  But I would be lying if I didn't figuratively shit a brick everytime the ball goes in our box and anywhere near him at the minute.

[Drummond]

Obviously, I want him to do well.  But I would be lying if I didn't figuratively shit a brick everytime the ball goes in our box and anywhere near him at the minute.

I wouldn't fancy being a toilet cleaner at Villa Park at the best of times, but 42,000 all shitting themselves a week on Sunday as the crosses fly in will not make for an easy afternoon's work.

[kippaxvilla2]

On a very loosely related subject I was chatting to a mate yesterday about the time the Indy 500 events broke all crowd records a few years ago when 350,000 turned up.  We were discussing the horrendous car parking, speculating as to the number of hot dogs sold and of course how the toilets coped with it all.

[SoccerHQ]

I think confidence is having a big effect.

If Bruce had not played a plodding defensive midfielder at centre half things may have been different.

Playing Jedinak actually probably helped dealing with crosses. Can't remember him fumbling too many but last few weeks with the change he has been.

Nyland is very much a line keeper which is big problem in this league. He plays like Guzan and Given did from 2014 onwards which isn't a great sight. Occasional good saves but slow off his line, can't claim crosses etc.

[PeterWithesShin]

True, but I still maintain that if you are really any good, you wouldn't have been plying your trade in the German 2nd Division at the age of 27.

Surely using that argument means none of our players are any good as they are in the second tier? And it's not like he spent years there, it was 1 season after they'd been relegated. I'm far from convinced by him but where we signed him from has no bearing on it for me.

[paul_e]

I think it's pretty harsh for goalkeepers in particular. Plenty of keepers get to 25-26 having barely played a league game, having sat on the bench behind the same guy for years.

[Steve67]

First thing he needs to do is make Nyland lose the cute haircut, grow some stubble and get some face tattoos.  Make him look like a goalkeeper not a Norwegian male model.

Should we start worrying about you Brian?