Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Brend'Watkins on April 03, 2023, 10:32:31 AM
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There's a lot of chat about when Emery brings in his own better players for the way he wants us to play but after Saturday's heroics it's hard to see who and where we could improve. With the exception of Martinez, Kamara and Louiz we could get upgrades on everyone else because if we wanted to pick faults with our performance I'd say an area we need to improve against the better teams is the amount of possession we have in those games. I don't want to particularly get rid of any players either as I love them all at the moment. Maybe Bailey if we got a decent fee is the exception.
Assuming we get a European place or even if we don't I think Emery has his eye on better players who he could entice to join us. I personally still think we need a bully in midfield and a pacy winger/forward.
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I think we have to be a bit more hard headed when it comes to replacing and improving on players. It's part of the game, love them as we might currently.
The obvious area for improvement is squad depth - we need more good players than we have now, and they need to be players who at least are competitive for a start, and ideally better than what we already have.
Emery is handling this cleverly, he knows he has to get a tune out of what he has until the summer, and is doing a great job in using the players he has, whilst not going out of his way to alienate anyone - remembering that we'll be wanting to move a fair number on in the summer and they are worth less and are harder to shift if you have spent the last six months pretending they don't exist.
I think RB, CB, a wide player and another option up front maybe, for starters.
EDIT and a keeper.
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Digne is another I'd lose if a decent offer came in, replace him with a younger player to push Moreno, but otherwise every other player has shown significant improvement and is buying into the collective spirit.
It's easy to scoff and say it was down to poor recruitment, but I think Emery's decision to keep the squad small in his early days will prove to be a masterstroke in the long term, he's got every player involved and contributing something. Anyone that now joins comes into an established culture that everyone already buys into.
Compare and contrast with the approach from the opposite side of the sprectrum of our most recently vanquished opponents.
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I think Emery's decision to keep the squad small in his early days will prove to be a masterstroke in the long term, he's got every player involved and contributing something. Anyone that now joins comes into an established culture that everyone already buys into.
Good point, there’s barely any fat in the squad at the moment so anyone joining is likely to be faced with 20-odd committed players so any complacency has likely been driven out. Fingers crossed that is the case.
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Konsa's been more solid recently in general defensive play but he's still a very limited passer indeed so that's the first one for me.
Certainly need a more consistent threat in final third than Bailey and Buendia who have their excellent games from time to time but then go missing for a few weeks.
Beyond that I think it's then getting in a couple who suit way Emery wants to play e.g. Guendouzi. Moreno obviously suits us more than Digne so that's a good example of a signing we didn't have to make but UE thought it would give us a short term lift and he's been spot on as usual.
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Digne is another I'd lose if a decent offer came in, replace him with a younger player to push Moreno, but otherwise every other player has shown significant improvement and is buying into the collective spirit.
It's easy to scoff and say it was down to poor recruitment, but I think Emery's decision to keep the squad small in his early days will prove to be a masterstroke in the long term, he's got every player involved and contributing something. Anyone that now joins comes into an established culture that everyone already buys into.
Compare and contrast with the approach from the opposite side of the sprectrum of our most recently vanquished opponents.
Compare and contrast with Gerrard's reign, where every single player appeared to go backwards from where they were when he joined. Smith by contrast was another who could point to a lot of the individual players in the squad having improved from when they first joined the club.
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Bailey and Traore will both go, with an incomer to compete with existing squad-members.
New CB and RB. Another keeper.
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Konsa's been more solid recently in general defensive play but he's still a very limited passer indeed so that's the first one for me.
Certainly need a more consistent threat in final third than Bailey and Buendia who have their excellent games from time to time but then go missing for a few weeks.
Beyond that I think it's then getting in a couple who suit way Emery wants to play e.g. Guendouzi. Moreno obviously suits us more than Digne so that's a good example of a signing we didn't have to make but UE thought it would give us a short term lift and he's been spot on as usual.
I think as far as Konsa is concerned, we have Carlos to come back in too. I'd definitely get another Right Back though, as much as I love Young, I'm not sure he's another full season in him.
We need more drive in midfield, Guendozi as an example would be a great addition.
Up front is where we need more depth, and I wouldn't be surprised to see 2 or 3 come in, whether that's strikers, wingers or even a number 10.
Goalie is an interesting one, Olsen and Sinisalo are both full internationals and Steer is obviously a hero. I'd ditch Olsen (who wouldn't?!) but we may have enough with the other two.
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The next step up - keep our manager.
Do whatever it takes to keep the vultures away in this current managerial roundabout frenzy.
The rest will fall into place.
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I've felt for the entirety of Gerrard's reign, some of our players were underperforming & underrated. I don't think the squad needs major surgery to compete for the European places (5th-7th). Most of the first team, I feel, are up to that level - assuming Carlos will go in for Konsa, it's really only Bailey in our first team that I'd have questions about whether he could compete in that bracket, in the Premier League. I think it'd be more a case of supplementing our squad with one or two players who'll give a bit more depth & offer something a bit different.
The step up from that, though, is much bigger. If we are very active in the transfer market, I'd expect it to be because we're looking towards being in the running for the Champions League places. It's not that I think we lack the quality - I'd still maintain that none of our first team would look out of place in a top 4 squad (maybe with Bailey as an exception), it's more a question of what role they'd play there.
All in all, under Emery I'm optimistic about our ability to move up the league, and am fairly confident that by next season we'll be a sort of 5th-7th placed team who have a bit of an eye on finishing higher up the season after. All that dependent on Emery being backed fully, whether that's because he wants to go big in the transfer market if it's a case of saying that we'll be patient if things don't pan out exactly as planned.
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Bailey and Traore will both go, with an incomer to compete with existing squad-members.
New CB and RB. Another keeper.
This is how I see it.
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I've felt for the entirety of Gerrard's reign, some of our players were underperforming & underrated. I don't think the squad needs major surgery to compete for the European places (5th-7th). Most of the first team, I feel, are up to that level - assuming Carlos will go in for Konsa, it's really only Bailey in our first team that I'd have questions about whether he could compete in that bracket, in the Premier League. I think it'd be more a case of supplementing our squad with one or two players who'll give a bit more depth & offer something a bit different.
The step up from that, though, is much bigger. If we are very active in the transfer market, I'd expect it to be because we're looking towards being in the running for the Champions League places. It's not that I think we lack the quality - I'd still maintain that none of our first team would look out of place in a top 4 squad (maybe with Bailey as an exception), it's more a question of what role they'd play there.
All in all, under Emery I'm optimistic about our ability to move up the league, and am fairly confident that by next season we'll be a sort of 5th-7th placed team who have a bit of an eye on finishing higher up the season after. All that dependent on Emery being backed fully, whether that's because he wants to go big in the transfer market if it's a case of saying that we'll be patient if things don't pan out exactly as planned.
We've done patient and have so far got away with only having one striker. It would be madness not to go large this summer.
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We've been patient for the past ten years.
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We've been patient for the past ten years.
All of our lives, surely. Some of us, anyroad.
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A decent back up keeper, a good right back to compete with Cash (although i am happy with Cash), a centre back that's better than any we have leaving Carlos and Mings to compete to play alongside. A top centre mid that's tough and athletic to go in with Kamara, and a really top quality wide attacking player. That's 5, 3 to go straight in. Offload Olsen, Konsa, Sanson, Nakamba and either Bailey or Traore and i think we'd be in good shape. One eye on a new centre forward in the Jan if we think we need it. I'd keep Chambers as he's quite versatile, and Young for another season if he's up to it.
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I've felt for the entirety of Gerrard's reign, some of our players were underperforming & underrated. I don't think the squad needs major surgery to compete for the European places (5th-7th). Most of the first team, I feel, are up to that level - assuming Carlos will go in for Konsa, it's really only Bailey in our first team that I'd have questions about whether he could compete in that bracket, in the Premier League. I think it'd be more a case of supplementing our squad with one or two players who'll give a bit more depth & offer something a bit different.
The step up from that, though, is much bigger. If we are very active in the transfer market, I'd expect it to be because we're looking towards being in the running for the Champions League places. It's not that I think we lack the quality - I'd still maintain that none of our first team would look out of place in a top 4 squad (maybe with Bailey as an exception), it's more a question of what role they'd play there.
All in all, under Emery I'm optimistic about our ability to move up the league, and am fairly confident that by next season we'll be a sort of 5th-7th placed team who have a bit of an eye on finishing higher up the season after. All that dependent on Emery being backed fully, whether that's because he wants to go big in the transfer market if it's a case of saying that we'll be patient if things don't pan out exactly as planned.
It's funny how fast things change. I'm sure there was a discussion on here recently about how many of our players were good enough for top 6 and it was pretty much limited to Martinez, Kamara and Doug. I'm sure I made a case for Tyrone, but that was pretty much it.
What a difference a manager and some good results make.
I'm glad we have found form, but we've been too average for too long to not go big in the summer. My biggest conundrum is Watkins. He's in great form right now, I'm just not sure if I trust him long term.
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I've felt for the entirety of Gerrard's reign, some of our players were underperforming & underrated. I don't think the squad needs major surgery to compete for the European places (5th-7th). Most of the first team, I feel, are up to that level - assuming Carlos will go in for Konsa, it's really only Bailey in our first team that I'd have questions about whether he could compete in that bracket, in the Premier League. I think it'd be more a case of supplementing our squad with one or two players who'll give a bit more depth & offer something a bit different.
The step up from that, though, is much bigger. If we are very active in the transfer market, I'd expect it to be because we're looking towards being in the running for the Champions League places. It's not that I think we lack the quality - I'd still maintain that none of our first team would look out of place in a top 4 squad (maybe with Bailey as an exception), it's more a question of what role they'd play there.
All in all, under Emery I'm optimistic about our ability to move up the league, and am fairly confident that by next season we'll be a sort of 5th-7th placed team who have a bit of an eye on finishing higher up the season after. All that dependent on Emery being backed fully, whether that's because he wants to go big in the transfer market if it's a case of saying that we'll be patient if things don't pan out exactly as planned.
It's funny how fast things change. I'm sure there was a discussion on here recently about how many of our players were good enough for top 6 and it was pretty much limited to Martinez, Kamara and Doug. I'm sure I made a case for Tyrone, but that was pretty much it.
What a difference a manager and some good results make.
I'm glad we have found form, but we've been too average for too long to not go big in the summer. My biggest conundrum is Watkins. He's in great form right now, I'm just not sure if I trust him long term.
Trust him, the form was there before and has come back immediately either side of the Ings signing and Gerrard. The same goes for all of them, we've only viewed them based on what they've shown in relatively rudimentary set ups against opponents with the benefit of tactical awareness.
The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.
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If we’ve learnt anything since he has been here it is that Emre knows what he is doing. Players that had been written off by many are now performing at a high level which says a lot about the manager and his immediate predecessor. All that the club needs to do is trust his judgement and back him to the hilt.
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If we’ve learnt anything since he has been here it is that Emre knows what he is doing. Players that had been written off by many are now performing at a high level which says a lot about the manager and his immediate predecessor. All that the club needs to do is trust his judgement and back him to the hilt.
It's unbelieveble that he's proven that judgement without doubt in the time he has, and with almost the same resources and a fraction of the investment his predecessor got.
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Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:
GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran
I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker. Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it.
What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.
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Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:
GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran
I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker. Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it.
What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.
Duran should be one of those young players to come in and underpin it though. So I think it needs at least one more senior striker and one more decent winger before we then start talking about upgrades.
As you'd look at the likes of Olsen, Young, Bailey, Traore and Chambers and wonder whether any of them are long-term options.
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The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.
I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.
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The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.
I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.
Bad results against Fulham have had a positive impact on us a couple of times in the last few years...
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Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:
GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran
I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker. Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it.
What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.
That's a good summary, although i'd probably have Luiz in with your CM rather than your DM. But 21 players is not quite enough, 3 injuries and your match day squad picks itself. Based on what i posted earlier, you'd be losing 3 from that and gaining 5. Add a 3rd choice keeper and thats 24 players, a bit more like it.
Edit: Yes agree that there should be opportunity for youth, i want to see a pretty robust senior squad though and i think if the youth are good enough they'll find a way in all the same.
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The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.
I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.
That game and how it unfolded should be mentally scarring, it should make me wince to even recall it. But thanks to the brutality and speed with which he dealt with 'the problem' it's become a beautiful moment of liberation, the dawn of the bright new age.
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The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.
I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.
That game and how it unfolded should be mentally scarring, it should make me wince to even recall it. But thanks to the brutality and speed with which he dealt with 'the problem' it's become a beautiful moment of liberation, the dawn of the bright new age.
Clinical finishing is what we've been lacking for years!
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The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.
I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.
That game and how it unfolded should be mentally scarring, it should make me wince to even recall it. But thanks to the brutality and speed with which he dealt with 'the problem' it's become a beautiful moment of liberation, the dawn of the bright new age.
Clinical finishing is what we've been lacking for years!
That's pretty much the same for every middling to lower ranked team. Hard to come by in our current position, being top 6 obviously makes it a little easier. Maybe Emery has someone in mind, a fading star who he could get more out of or, Archer ready to step up?
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The Fulham game that preceeded Gerrard's sacking was a fine example, we didn't get near a Fulham player on the ball and they all looked like they had all the time in the world to play around us, yet there was probably only the Portuguese lad in midfield I'd take from their team. But they had a plan and knew how to execute it and we had Jan Bednarek is a specialist marking role.
I'm surprised Nas lasted until the final whistle to pot Gerrard after that game, his finger must have been hovering over the button marked "fire" when he read the teamsheet.
That game and how it unfolded should be mentally scarring, it should make me wince to even recall it. But thanks to the brutality and speed with which he dealt with 'the problem' it's become a beautiful moment of liberation, the dawn of the bright new age.
Clinical finishing is what we've been lacking for years!
That's pretty much the same for every middling to lower ranked team. Hard to come by in our current position, being top 6 obviously makes it a little easier. Maybe Emery has someone in mind, a fading star who he could get more out of or, Archer ready to step up?
Haha, I meant by the owner.
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Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:
GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran
I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker. Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it.
What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.
Duran should be one of those young players to come in and underpin it though. So I think it needs at least one more senior striker and one more decent winger before we then start talking about upgrades.
As you'd look at the likes of Olsen, Young, Bailey, Traore and Chambers and wonder whether any of them are long-term options.
Agree with that Dave. Ideally would look to take it up to 23 with the addition of another striker and possibly some cover for the type of roles McGinn and Ramsey are currently playing (funnily enough, I think that kind of role would suit Sanson pretty well).
Then I think it would be a case of starting to replace some of the weaker areas with better quality.
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Posted in the Summer transfer thread that this is the senior squad as I see it:
GK - Martinez, Olsen
RB - Cash, Young
LB - Moreno, Digne
CB - Konsa, Mings, Carlos, Chambers
DM - Kamara, Luiz, Dendoncker
CM - McGinn, Ramsey
WM - Bailey, Traore
AM - Buendia, Coutinho
ST - Watkins, Duran
I think it is just about perfect size, although maybe missing another striker. Being that size, it also gives opportunity for young players to come in and underpin it.
What I like is that Emery has established a couple of systems that he uses, so we can see exactly the type of players needed to come in.
That's a good summary, although i'd probably have Luiz in with your CM rather than your DM. But 21 players is not quite enough, 3 injuries and your match day squad picks itself. Based on what i posted earlier, you'd be losing 3 from that and gaining 5. Add a 3rd choice keeper and thats 24 players, a bit more like it.
Edit: Yes agree that there should be opportunity for youth, i want to see a pretty robust senior squad though and i think if the youth are good enough they'll find a way in all the same.
Agree it's probably a couple of senior players short as it is. I get the feeling that he doesn't want too big a squad though.
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We've been patient for the past ten years.
All of our lives, surely. Some of us, anyroad.
I really doff my cap to those of you that have seen next to nothing to get excited about these 20 odd years and still stuck around. Us chosen few were lucky to have witnessed the Saunders years when winning was the norm, when a walk down Witton Lane or Trinity Road was a discussion of how many we would score and win by. Then there was traveling to away games where you paid on the gate.
The next step has to build strong foundations, not the crap people like MON built on quicksand. Winning cup finals rather than just being there to enjoy the day and make up the numbers. The Arsenal humiliation was probably the closest I ever came to jacking it all in. Yeah, you've had it rough but finally with the right leadership you may just get to see a real Aston Villa to be proud of. Bloody hell, you lot deserve it (as do I, obviously).
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The joy now is looking forward to every game, knowing we have a chance to win. We had that in the Championship, but this, this is fabulous.
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The joy now is looking forward to every game, knowing we have a chance to win. We had that in the Championship, but this, this is fabulous.
I agree I really look forward to going to every game I'm an optimist so I'm over the moon with how we are playing.
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Leicester 2 Villa 0 incoming !!
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If Emery can work on coaching
Archer
A.Ramsey
Tim I
Then the need to spend on squad fillers will be greatly reduced.
Not sure where Guenduzi would play (as Kamara / Luiz looks as good as anything in the league) but we do need to push J.Ramsey to get even better and replace Bailey with someone who really is world class
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The joy now is looking forward to every game, knowing we have a chance to win. We had that in the Championship, but this, this is fabulous.
True. Mad as it was, I loved the Championship. Loads of games and winning most. It's a lovely habit to have.
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Getting into Europe or not will have a big impact on the summer window. Potentially 15 more games (more with added domestic cup runs).
If we do make it then our promising kids will be promoted to the first-team squad and rotated into the European games. This is good short and long term. I doubt we'll lose many others either. Having the option to start or bring on players like Phil and Bert in European games will be important. Also Sanson appears to doing a good job in France, but it may be too late for him already.
If we don't make it this season we'll lose a couple of the kids as well as a couple of more established players as they are replaced with upgrades.
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Not sure where Guenduzi would play (as Kamara / Luiz looks as good as anything in the league) but we do need to push J.Ramsey to get even better and replace Bailey with someone who really is world class
I was thinking that Guendouzi seemed an odd position for our (if reports were to be believed) main priority in January. Compared to wingers and strikers.
Then again, it was in the context of McGinn looking a bit slow and mediocre rather than the Scottish Lothar Matthaus that he seems to have turned into.
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The obvious place to improve is someone to play with Watkins, whether as a striker as a winger. That is an open secret. I'd be amazed if we don't get Guendouzi too.
Out of the players who have played regularly, the vulnerable ones are Bailey, Konsa, the right backs and I'd say Emi Buendia may need to lift his game too.
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I wouldn't rule-out Sanson completely, especially if we make Europe. Emery does like him but he knew the player needed to play regular football.
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The next step up - keep our manager.
Do whatever it takes to keep the vultures away in this current managerial roundabout frenzy.
The rest will fall into place.
Another reason why Emery is so ace, is that I’m not worried at all about him jumping ship before he’s achieved things (winning trophies) here. He seems to ooze integrity, and that’s really impressive. I honestly think he’s going to be ‘the one’.
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The joy now is looking forward to every game, knowing we have a chance to win. We had that in the Championship, but this, this is fabulous.
True. Mad as it was, I loved the Championship. Loads of games and winning most. It's a lovely habit to have.
Bit of a stretch, that. Middle season, but not the other two. If you take the run out of the promotion season, we won 10 of 36. I was glad to see the back of it. Hated it.
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If Emery can work on coaching
Archer
A.Ramsey
Tim I
Then the need to spend on squad fillers will be greatly reduced.
I was just talking to my son about this yesterday. The only thing I do not know about yet with Emery is how he does bringing players through the academy. These are the three I mentioned to my son as players I think ought to have the opportunity to come through and that, ultimately, we need to have a successful academy to achieve sustained success... unless and until we become so successful that the world's stars are throwing themselves at us for the opportunity to play regularly at Villa Park (and, even then, I still want a good academy and to bring players through!).
Has anyone examined Unai's past clubs with his youth policy in view?
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If Emery can work on coaching
Archer
A.Ramsey
Tim I
Then the need to spend on squad fillers will be greatly reduced.
I was just talking to my son about this yesterday. The only thing I do not know about yet with Emery is how he does bringing players through the academy. These are the three I mentioned to my son as players I think ought to have the opportunity to come through and that, ultimately, we need to have a successful academy to achieve sustained success... unless and until we become so successful that the world's stars are throwing themselves at us for the opportunity to play regularly at Villa Park (and, even then, I still want a good academy and to bring players through!).
Has anyone examined Unai's past clubs with his youth policy in view?
At Arsenal he introduced Smith-Rowe, Saka and Martinelli to the first-team squad, IIRC.
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If Emery can work on coaching
Archer
A.Ramsey
Tim I
Then the need to spend on squad fillers will be greatly reduced.
Not sure where Guenduzi would play (as Kamara / Luiz looks as good as anything in the league) but we do need to push J.Ramsey to get even better and replace Bailey with someone who really is world class
And, there's KKH, Reikhy, Bogarde and Feeney ... maybe
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If Emery can work on coaching
Archer
A.Ramsey
Tim I
Then the need to spend on squad fillers will be greatly reduced.
Not sure where Guenduzi would play (as Kamara / Luiz looks as good as anything in the league) but we do need to push J.Ramsey to get even better and replace Bailey with someone who really is world class
And, there's KKH, Reikhy, Bogarde and Feeney ... maybe
And Young and Barry
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Getting into Europe or not will have a big impact on the summer window. Potentially 15 more games (more with added domestic cup runs).
If we do make it then our promising kids will be promoted to the first-team squad and rotated into the European games. This is good short and long term. I doubt we'll lose many others either. Having the option to start or bring on players like Phil and Bert in European games will be important. Also Sanson appears to doing a good job in France, but it may be too late for him already.
If we don't make it this season we'll lose a couple of the kids as well as a couple of more established players as they are replaced with upgrades.
Only for us to hear people bang on for another 10 years how we didn't take it seriously?
<I agree with you but it's amazing how this sort of thing is a good idea until it isn't>
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A decent back up keeper, a good right back to compete with Cash (although i am happy with Cash), a centre back that's better than any we have leaving Carlos and Mings to compete to play alongside. A top centre mid that's tough and athletic to go in with Kamara, and a really top quality wide attacking player. That's 5, 3 to go straight in. Offload Olsen, Konsa, Sanson, Nakamba and either Bailey or Traore and i think we'd be in good shape. One eye on a new centre forward in the Jan if we think we need it. I'd keep Chambers as he's quite versatile, and Young for another season if he's up to it.
Don’t disagree with this, but id just say any new midfielder to play with Kamara and Luiz. Dougie is on a different level at the moment and at 24 it feels he’s only going to get better.
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Getting into Europe or not will have a big impact on the summer window. Potentially 15 more games (more with added domestic cup runs).
If we do make it then our promising kids will be promoted to the first-team squad and rotated into the European games. This is good short and long term. I doubt we'll lose many others either. Having the option to start or bring on players like Phil and Bert in European games will be important. Also Sanson appears to doing a good job in France, but it may be too late for him already.
If we don't make it this season we'll lose a couple of the kids as well as a couple of more established players as they are replaced with upgrades.
Only for us to hear people bang on for another 10 years how we didn't take it seriously?
<I agree with you but it's amazing how this sort of thing is a good idea until it isn't>
If we ever reach the great horizon of Europe, we'll also have the great "is the Europa tinpot" debates to look forward to
(it isn't and I want to be in any flavour of Europe)
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Getting into Europe or not will have a big impact on the summer window. Potentially 15 more games (more with added domestic cup runs).
If we do make it then our promising kids will be promoted to the first-team squad and rotated into the European games. This is good short and long term. I doubt we'll lose many others either. Having the option to start or bring on players like Phil and Bert in European games will be important. Also Sanson appears to doing a good job in France, but it may be too late for him already.
If we don't make it this season we'll lose a couple of the kids as well as a couple of more established players as they are replaced with upgrades.
Only for us to hear people bang on for another 10 years how we didn't take it seriously?
<I agree with you but it's amazing how this sort of thing is a good idea until it isn't>
If we ever reach the great horizon of Europe, we'll also have the great "is the Europa tinpot" debates to look forward to
(it isn't and I want to be in any flavour of Europe)
Absolutely. I want us to win every game we play. Once the trophies are in our trophy cabinet, then we can decide which ones we think are the best.
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Getting into Europe or not will have a big impact on the summer window. Potentially 15 more games (more with added domestic cup runs).
If we do make it then our promising kids will be promoted to the first-team squad and rotated into the European games. This is good short and long term. I doubt we'll lose many others either. Having the option to start or bring on players like Phil and Bert in European games will be important. Also Sanson appears to doing a good job in France, but it may be too late for him already.
If we don't make it this season we'll lose a couple of the kids as well as a couple of more established players as they are replaced with upgrades.
Only for us to hear people bang on for another 10 years how we didn't take it seriously?
<I agree with you but it's amazing how this sort of thing is a good idea until it isn't>
If we ever reach the great horizon of Europe, we'll also have the great "is the Europa tinpot" debates to look forward to
(it isn't and I want to be in any flavour of Europe)
Absolutely. I want us to win every game we play. Once the trophies are in our trophy cabinet, then we can decide which ones we think are the best.
Will settle for us winning the league and the European Cup in my lifetime (even though I was only 1 and 2 at the time), but would genuinely love to see us win the FA Cup and Europa League (wish it would go back to being named the UEFA Cup).
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4 years ago PL mid table safety was all I wanted. Right now I'll take any trophy. I hope in 4 years time I've become completely entitled and demanding we win the league or CL as I'm bored of domestic cup wins.
But in a hypothetical world if I was offered one title it would be the CL. Then we can reset the clock and talk about that for the next 40 years.
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We have 10 games left. Or, we have 10 cup finals left with the trophy being a CL place. Yes, it's a tall order and an improbable scenario but if we just fail we get the runners up trophy. Win tonight, very possible, win on Saturday, very possible. We are then up against Newcastle who in reality we have to beat to win that 4th place.
You may say that I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.
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4 years ago PL mid table safety was all I wanted. Right now I'll take any trophy. I hope in 4 years time I've become completely entitled and demanding we win the league or CL as I'm bored of domestic cup wins.
But in a hypothetical world if I was offered one title it would be the CL. Then we can reset the clock and talk about that for the next 40 years.
Nah, we need to win the CL in a year ending 2 so it rhymes with the "claret and blue" bit in the song!
"Every week we follow the boys in claret and blue / we even conquered Europe in 2032".
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That would work. So long as we have a domestic double or two before that.
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I have always advocated that to be taken serious we needed to smash our transfer record to get into playing with the "big boys" now we have an actual top quality coach i have total faith that he will want players that play to his methods - they might be wolrd class 60+ million players of someone from the Dog and Duck - i don't care anymore.
My only concern is any team trying to break in (And Brighton are a classic example) with shrewd purchases and scouting get their best players picked off by the scum 6 if they drag their heals getting there.
With this guy in charge i think we will see a huge investment and support of anything he wants to do.
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That's my concern.
Emi and Doug will both be very attractive to the world's biggest clubs. Both worth +£60m. I am sure we'll have to fend off clubs in the summer.
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That's my concern.
Emi and Doug will both be very attractive to the world's biggest clubs. Both worth +£60m. I am sure we'll have to fend off clubs in the summer.
I think the club are aware hence the recently signed long contracts for those 2
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Neither will be going anywhere. Luiz just signed a deal and said how happy he is, Martinez pretty much said the same. It's not like it was, the players can see where this is going, and it's getting better.
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My natural pessimism...
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Neither will be going anywhere. Luiz just signed a deal and said how happy he is, Martinez pretty much said the same. It's not like it was, the players can see where this is going, and it's getting better.
And it is re-assuring to know that any future prospect signing will recognise that Villa are moving in the right direction, that they will have to graft hard and earn their wage packet.
Hopefully, the days of easy money, in a comfort zone with no expectation are well and truly behind us.
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Things are seemingly falling into place - it feels like the time under SGT just before we found out that England had nicked him, or the second season of MON when things started to click.
With all this optimism we all know how tonight will pan out!
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Yes, the optimism is shitting me up. We've seen this movie so many times before. "We've done all the hard work. Now all we need to do is beat a couple of relegation strugglers and we'll be right up there." Hmmn. Let's see.
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Yes, the optimism is shitting me up. We've seen this movie so many times before. "We've done all the hard work. Now all we need to do is beat a couple of relegation strugglers and we'll be right up there." Hmmn. Let's see.
how are your shits now? - we avoided 2 banana skins and are set fair. Watching the Villa had become less stressful and we go into the barcode game with optimism.
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Yes, this is all new. We'd definitely have messed up one of those games in the past.
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It's important we get into europa sooner or later to keep our big hitting players sweet.
Of course we can wait but let's not make out finishing 6th is some Leicester type 500/1 shot miracle. With 8 games left we have more than a decent chance of doing it now.
Usually in football you have to seize the initiative rather than wait for future seasons. I was disappointed in 20/21 in what a good position we were in with 15 games to go and then the long winless run started and we finished 11th.
Grealish left and 18 months later we were 17th and losing to Fulham 3-0 under a terrible manager so while we're in a much better place now we need to be qualifying for europe sooner or later if we want to be the club again we have been in the past.
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It's important we get into europa sooner or later to keep our big hitting players sweet.
Of course we can wait but let's not make out finishing 6th is some Leicester type 500/1 shot miracle. With 8 games left we have more than a decent chance of doing it now.
Usually in football you have to seize the initiative rather than wait for future seasons. I was disappointed in 20/21 in what a good position we were in with 15 games to go and then the long winless run started and we finished 11th.
Grealish left and 18 months later we were 17th and losing to Fulham 3-0 under a terrible manager so while we're in a much better place now we need to be qualifying for europe sooner or later if we want to be the club again we have been in the past.
Agree that there is an opportunity this season that might not present itself too often, given the relatively poor seasons two of the so-called "big six" are having.
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Of the players currently in the building, there are very few players I would put in the bracket of "need to get rid of this summer" (not including senior players on loan, obv), but I'd be happy to see a few of them become squad players. These players have shown they are good enough to compete in the top third of the league, but now it's about supplementing them with players that can get us a top four place. If we do manage to hold on to a European place, that demand goes from three or four important first-team reader players, to perhaps five or six to ensure we have a squad capable of playing twice a week for large chunks of the season.
Newcastle have shown how to compete for a top four place with just three or four excellent signings (but they haven't had a European campaign to worry about while doing it).
We obviously need a top class forward and winger who can slot straight into the starting eleven as a minimum, and I'd hope our ability to recruit those positions would be greatly improved if we had a European campaign to offer.
I'm genuinely excited to see how the summer develops, because whatever happens, we're going to see players being replaced who have actually performed pretty well since Emery came in, and this "improving from a position of strength" is what all the best teams do, even if it seems to be a bit alien to us right now.
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I think what Smithy says is right - virtually all the players have shown they can do a job at this level - and I don't see a need to move any of them on, unless Unai see differently, or we get offers for players on high wages - like Bailey, Dinge, Dendonker and Phil
For me, the focus needs to be on at least 1 upgrade on Bailey, and maybe Beundia. Really they needs to be getting 10 -15 goal involvements a season at least, and I am not convinced they ever will consistently.
I think then we need another right-back, center back, and midfielder that are different then what we have, but at least as good (e.g. a ball playing center back, a more defensively solid right back).
We could also do with cover for watkins, but that could be archer and duran. If we get European football (a very big if I think), it would be great to get the likes of A Ramsey, Tim and KKH involved too
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It's important we get into europa sooner or later to keep our big hitting players sweet.
Of course we can wait but let's not make out finishing 6th is some Leicester type 500/1 shot miracle. With 8 games left we have more than a decent chance of doing it now.
Usually in football you have to seize the initiative rather than wait for future seasons. I was disappointed in 20/21 in what a good position we were in with 15 games to go and then the long winless run started and we finished 11th.
Grealish left and 18 months later we were 17th and losing to Fulham 3-0 under a terrible manager so while we're in a much better place now we need to be qualifying for europe sooner or later if we want to be the club again we have been in the past.
Agree that there is an opportunity this season that might not present itself too often, given the relatively poor seasons two of the so-called "big six" are having.
That's true, but there are two teams in Brighton and Brentford who are doing WAY better than expected this year. Last year the surprise packages were West Ham and Wolves (both of whom would have been ahead of us on 51 and 49 points respectively at this point in the season). Chelsea and Liverpool will definitely improve next season, brentford and Brighton might go the way of West Ham and Wolves this season. Someone might replace them. I tend to look at what it takes to qualify for Europe each season, rather that which team is actually qualifying.
The final European place in the last few seasons has ween won with 58, 65, 59, and 57 points. The 65 points year would probably see us miss out, but I think we're well capable of reaching 59, which would see us qualify in three of the last four years.
But you are right, this season represents a huge opportunity to jump ahead a full year in our 'Emery plan', and given where we are in the season, it would be devastating if we failed to take it.
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If we do make Europe then I don't think we'll be letting many players go simply because we need the numbers. So the new signings must serve to improve on what we already have. Also, I don't want us to crash out of the domestic cups so early next season.
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Going back to Smithy's post earlier. I was surprised to see West Ham and Wolves were doing better than us at this stage last season. In fact after 30 games they were on 48 and 46 points, they did both win their 31st match to get to the points totals from Smithy's post but both shit the bed badly after that. 5 points from 7 for West Ham and 2 from 7 for Wolves. We know ourselves how bad runs can carry over into new seasons. Would be very deflating to have a collapse like that, notwithstanding the remarkable turnaround we have already enjoyed.
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Going back to Smithy's post earlier. I was surprised to see West Ham and Wolves were doing better than us at this stage last season. In fact after 30 games they were on 48 and 46 points, they did both win their 31st match to get to the points totals from Smithy's post but both shit the bed badly after that. 5 points from 7 for West Ham and 2 from 7 for Wolves. We know ourselves how bad runs can carry over into new seasons. Would be very deflating to have a collapse like that, notwithstanding the remarkable turnaround we have already enjoyed.
I guess this is when the number of games began to catch up with them. Very few teams are able to sustain a campaign in multiple competitions and if they do it usually has negative consequences for the following season.
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The next step up is having enough players to maintain a consistent performance level. I suspect we will see a few new arrivals that will enable that.
Our form under this manager is plenty good enough this season isn't it? The belief is there, the form is there. We've players to come back in and young players, like Aaron Ramsey who would be great for extended cup runs.
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Going back to Smithy's post earlier. I was surprised to see West Ham and Wolves were doing better than us at this stage last season. In fact after 30 games they were on 48 and 46 points, they did both win their 31st match to get to the points totals from Smithy's post but both shit the bed badly after that. 5 points from 7 for West Ham and 2 from 7 for Wolves. We know ourselves how bad runs can carry over into new seasons. Would be very deflating to have a collapse like that, notwithstanding the remarkable turnaround we have already enjoyed.
I guess this is when the number of games began to catch up with them. Very few teams are able to sustain a campaign in multiple competitions and if they do it usually has negative consequences for the following season.
Agree.
This is where having strength in depth is so important.
I don’t think those two did, although they both had a good first 12 or 13, once past those they were very average
Yes, I want us to qualify for Europe, but not so much if it proves detrimental to our domestic form
I would love us to win the FA cup, and treat the League Cup with respect and give it a go, too..
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There's a lot of chat about when Emery brings in his own better players for the way he wants us to play but after Saturday's heroics it's hard to see who and where we could improve. With the exception of Martinez, Kamara and Louiz we could get upgrades on everyone else because if we wanted to pick faults with our performance I'd say an area we need to improve against the better teams is the amount of possession we have in those games. I don't want to particularly get rid of any players either as I love them all at the moment. Maybe Bailey if we got a decent fee is the exception.
Assuming we get a European place or even if we don't I think Emery has his eye on better players who he could entice to join us. I personally still think we need a bully in midfield and a pacy winger/forward.
Brendan if you read this, i got your pm but its not letting me reply?? Maybe need to ask mods? Im
Happy for you to have my mobile or personal email address if i can get it you somehow?
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There's a lot of chat about when Emery brings in his own better players for the way he wants us to play but after Saturday's heroics it's hard to see who and where we could improve. With the exception of Martinez, Kamara and Louiz we could get upgrades on everyone else because if we wanted to pick faults with our performance I'd say an area we need to improve against the better teams is the amount of possession we have in those games. I don't want to particularly get rid of any players either as I love them all at the moment. Maybe Bailey if we got a decent fee is the exception.
Assuming we get a European place or even if we don't I think Emery has his eye on better players who he could entice to join us. I personally still think we need a bully in midfield and a pacy winger/forward.
Brendan if you read this, i got your pm but its not letting me reply?? Maybe need to ask mods? Im
Happy for you to have my mobile or personal email address if i can get it you somehow?
Send it as a new message if you can
-
There's a lot of chat about when Emery brings in his own better players for the way he wants us to play but after Saturday's heroics it's hard to see who and where we could improve. With the exception of Martinez, Kamara and Louiz we could get upgrades on everyone else because if we wanted to pick faults with our performance I'd say an area we need to improve against the better teams is the amount of possession we have in those games. I don't want to particularly get rid of any players either as I love them all at the moment. Maybe Bailey if we got a decent fee is the exception.
Assuming we get a European place or even if we don't I think Emery has his eye on better players who he could entice to join us. I personally still think we need a bully in midfield and a pacy winger/forward.
Brendan if you read this, i got your pm but its not letting me reply?? Maybe need to ask mods? Im
Happy for you to have my mobile or personal email address if i can get it you somehow?
Send it as a new message if you can
m
Its not letting me Bren, not recognising your name for some reason. I know everything tgatvis going on as do the other villa boys. Ill be at the villa Saturday and will pop down to the concourse at half time for a pint, ill stand around the middle of the lower holte concourse, near L4/L5. Come and find me if you have a minute. Otherwise ill be in the sacred heart after for a couple of hours
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There's a lot of chat about when Emery brings in his own better players for the way he wants us to play but after Saturday's heroics it's hard to see who and where we could improve. With the exception of Martinez, Kamara and Louiz we could get upgrades on everyone else because if we wanted to pick faults with our performance I'd say an area we need to improve against the better teams is the amount of possession we have in those games. I don't want to particularly get rid of any players either as I love them all at the moment. Maybe Bailey if we got a decent fee is the exception.
Assuming we get a European place or even if we don't I think Emery has his eye on better players who he could entice to join us. I personally still think we need a bully in midfield and a pacy winger/forward.
Fantastic title thread and discussion topic. Great foresight and spot on regards a pacy winger but bully boys aren't the way in Emery set up that's more a Gerrard thing. Tielemans is a proper footballer and he is exactly what's needed to help control the possesion and the game
Emery stated that signing Diaby was an important step.
Diaby is a next-level move Pau Torres and Tielemans also indicate this, as they are ready made first-team players who play the Emery style.