Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Ads on June 29, 2019, 09:49:13 AM
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Being reported by Sam Wallace of the Telegraph that we've agreed a £14m fee, rising to £17m with add ons.
Deal for the left back to be completed this week.
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Welcome Matt
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Dumb money, thanks Yanited for distorting the full back market.
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Decent signing if it does go through. I thought he played well in the playoff final against us. Smith will get him playing, I'm sure.
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This one can be re-opened when it's a bit more definite.
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Club have just tweeted a picture of a target.
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Not exactly blown away by this signing but I do trust Smith to get the best out of him. Fingers crossed he's a success.
The silver lining of us giving Southampton the money to enable them to weaken Blues even further is good enough for me too!
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Bulls Eye, club confirmed signing now. Welcome to AVFC Matt
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Welcome Matt
Very good
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Welcome to the greatest club on Earth, Mr Targett.
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Welcome Matt. Hope you can justify the fee and help us stay where we belong next season! Please keep Taylor out of the team.
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Welcome Matt
Very good
One which will not be walked over hopefully.
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Just watched his interview after signing. Luckily he agreed that Villa are a massive club with a massive history and massive potential.
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Welcome to the Villa Matt
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Welcome MATT.... thread title change to confirmed as it’s official on club twitter and website with interview too ?
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Welcome Matt.
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Pleased to see us continue to make sensible signings.
I've mentioned this on here before, but it's pretty obvious that we're going for players with low wage demands and strong sell-on value if needed.
If we go down, they would likely by up for sticking around in the championship, or alternatively we can sell them on for decent money as they'll be a year more matured and have Premier League experience to their name.
Nice to see us being run responsibly.
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great signing now just get the other five done Dean!!
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Welcome Matt. You have moved up to a proper club now. Good luck.
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Good news, hopefully that's the problem left back position sorted at last.
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[quote author=Chipsticks link=topic=59905.msg3611060#msg3611060 date=1561978910
I've mentioned this on here before, but it's pretty obvious that we're going for players with low wage demands and strong sell-on value if needed.
[/quote]
Like SJM !?!?
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
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Welcome Matt. Hopefully a good solid signing and has to be an upgrade on Taylor.
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Welcome Matt. You have moved up to a proper club now. Good luck.
Indeed, Welcome. Just trying to think of the last player we signed from Southampton, i don't recall many that i can remember. We signed a good defender from Bournemouth some years back and are hopefully about to sign another from there.
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Good luck, work hard and we will love you. All the very best
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Welcome to another player I’d never heard of before a week or so ago
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Just trying to think of the last player we signed from Southampton,
Phillips?
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Welcome to the Villa Matt. Just one question, what exactly is your aim?
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Hopefully Matt will put a gloss on our defending.
😜
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Welcome Matt. You have moved up to a proper club now. Good luck.
Indeed, Welcome. Just trying to think of the last player we signed from Southampton, i don't recall many that i can remember. We signed a good defender from Bournemouth some years back and are hopefully about to sign another from there.
Super Kevin Phillips might be the last Southampton player we signed.
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
You wasn't much of a sprinter yourself, Mr Gage ;)
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Just trying to think of the last player we signed from Southampton,
Phillips?
Jim McCalliog.
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Now on the Beeb. Headed with a picture of him on the treatment table.
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Now on the Beeb. Headed with a picture of him on the treatment table.
shit, is he injured already?
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Welcome to the greatest club in the known universe Matt. May all of your tackles and crosses be..... on Targett! (Yeah, I went there! :) )
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Welcome Matt. You have moved up to a proper club now. Good luck.
Indeed, Welcome. Just trying to think of the last player we signed from Southampton, i don't recall many that i can remember. We signed a good defender from Bournemouth some years back and are hopefully about to sign another from there.
Super Kevin Phillips might be the last Southampton player we signed.
Ah yes. He's had that many clubs though it's hard to remember, i suppose he was best known at Sunderland.
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From what I saw of him last season, he looks very decent. People on about the fee - it isn't £17m, it is £17m (possibly) with add ons - those add ons mean if they come to fruition he will have been a success for us.
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Braces on his gnashers? Have we signed a ten year old?
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
You wasn't much of a sprinter yourself, Mr Gage ;)
It's about working smarter, not harder.
Particularly when you are a peroxide blond bombshell. Life is always easier for us.
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Seems like you got a good deal, they to charge us £20 million last year, before he had played in the premiership, so we nicked Joe Bryan from you, that worked out well for us!! It worked well for us because it released Ryan Sessegnon to go forward, you seems to be going in right direction signing players that have played nearly all their careers in English football
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He looks like he could be a son of Dean. Like Ron and Dalian.
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
We can only hope. Unlike Staunton, he's had very little experience. We'll need to be patient as he's still work in progress. Let's hope Dean and our coaches can develop the player into a first rate full back, something that Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and Ralph Hassenhutti failed to do.
Welcome Matt.
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I don't know anything about him but the Saints fan I work with reckons he has the right attitude but lacks the pace and physical presence required by Hassenhuttl (have spelt that right?). And he was kept out of the first team by Bertrand. Don't shoot the messenger.
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I like it when we sign our Targett player. Welcome Matt.
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I don't know anything about him but the Saints fan I work with reckons he has the right attitude but lacks the pace and physical presence required by Hassenhuttl (have spelt that right?). And he was kept out of the first team by Bertrand. Don't shoot the messenger.
More worried by the lack of physical presence bit than the lack of pace. As a full back if you've been told "your job is to stick to your position and defend" then you can get by without pace; if you're set up to play with proper wingers rather than wing-backs. All you need as a full-back in that scenario is good positioning and upper body strength. Being able to tackle is a strong bonus.
Without the strength, though, you might as well just not be there. Or be Neil Taylor.
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Welcome to the greatest football club in the World Matt!
Be brilliant.
Please.
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
We can only hope. Unlike Staunton, he's had very little experience. We'll need to be patient as he's still work in progress. Let's hope Dean and our coaches can develop the player into a first rate full back, something that Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and Ralph Hassenhutti failed to do.
Welcome Matt.
He was 18 when Poch left Southampton. Bit of a straw man argument.
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Full back was a massive weakness for us last year. The fact we had no-one who could successfully overlap meant that we consistently had to play wingers. Having progressive full-backs gives any team much more flexibility and we have the option to play an extra central player now.
Reading Fulham forums, they consider losing their full backs from their promotion season Fredericks and Targett a massive reason why they failed last year.
Good luck to him, I think it makes perfect sense with where we are now. Young, can fit right in and is an upgrade on what we have.
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
We can only hope. Unlike Staunton, he's had very little experience. We'll need to be patient as he's still work in progress. Let's hope Dean and our coaches can develop the player into a first rate full back, something that Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and Ralph Hassenhutti failed to do.
Welcome Matt.
He was 18 when Poch left Southampton. Bit of a straw man argument.
Luke Shaw had made 25 first team appearances before his 18th birthday. Shaw is two months older than Matt.
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Welcome to the Villa Matt, have a stonking career with us.
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Welcome
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
We can only hope. Unlike Staunton, he's had very little experience. We'll need to be patient as he's still work in progress. Let's hope Dean and our coaches can develop the player into a first rate full back, something that Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and Ralph Hassenhutti failed to do.
Welcome Matt.
He was 18 when Poch left Southampton. Bit of a straw man argument.
Ah! I was wondering who the fuck Mauricio Pellegrino was.
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Ah! I was wondering who the fuck Mauricio Pellegrino was.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauricio_Pellegrino
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
We can only hope. Unlike Staunton, he's had very little experience. We'll need to be patient as he's still work in progress. Let's hope Dean and our coaches can develop the player into a first rate full back, something that Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and Ralph Hassenhutti failed to do.
Welcome Matt.
He was 18 when Poch left Southampton. Bit of a straw man argument.
Luke Shaw had made 25 first team appearances before his 18th birthday. Shaw is two months older than Matt.
So to he clear, Poch couldn't get him to be a first rate full back at 18, so we're to infer that Smith will struggle to get anything out of the now 23 year old. Gotcha.
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
We can only hope. Unlike Staunton, he's had very little experience. We'll need to be patient as he's still work in progress. Let's hope Dean and our coaches can develop the player into a first rate full back, something that Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and Ralph Hassenhutti failed to do.
Welcome Matt.
He was 18 when Poch left Southampton. Bit of a straw man argument.
Luke Shaw had made 25 first team appearances before his 18th birthday. Shaw is two months older than Matt.
I'm not really sure what relevance that has, Shaw is bigger and faster, at 18 that makes a massive difference. His lack of technical ability and positional sense (along with a couple of injuries) are why it took 4 seasons with united before he was trusted to play regularly. Targett is a very different type of player so judging their progress against each other under the age of 21-22 is pointless.
I don't know how Targett will get on but I wouldn't write him off because he wasn't playing under Poch when he was 18.
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From my saints supporting mate (pretty knowledgeable fan):
He is worth about 12million, never shown a defensive weakness but not necessarily a big strength either. But attacking is a strength, good crossed and lots of good running. Good team player too but all the players say he is intellectually challenged!
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
We can only hope. Unlike Staunton, he's had very little experience. We'll need to be patient as he's still work in progress. Let's hope Dean and our coaches can develop the player into a first rate full back, something that Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and Ralph Hassenhutti failed to do.
Welcome Matt.
He was 18 when Poch left Southampton. Bit of a straw man argument.
Luke Shaw had made 25 first team appearances before his 18th birthday. Shaw is two months older than Matt.
So to he clear, Poch couldn't get him to be a first rate full back at 18, so we're to infer that Smith will struggle to get anything out of the now 23 year old. Gotcha.
I don't particularly agree with what Rudy is saying, but Southampton have had 5 managers since Poch, so your response doesn't really stack up either.
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Ah! I was wondering who the fuck Mauricio Pellegrino was.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauricio_Pellegrino
Right. So why is Ads on about Poch? I’m confused.
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Ah! I was wondering who the fuck Mauricio Pellegrino was.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauricio_Pellegrino
Right. So why is Ads on about Poch? I’m confused.
I think we all are. Unless a post has been edited somewhere?
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I don't particularly agree with what Rudy is saying, but Southampton have had 5 managers since Poch, so your response doesn't really stack up either.
True, but they've also had Bertrand who has been on the fringe of the England squad for most of that time.
To have as many appearances as he's had, with a half season loan away suggests Targett was pretty highly rated there for a long time. A five year deal 2 years ago backs that up. Hassenhuttl clearly doesn't like him, which is why he's with us, but I don't think that means all that much as he's the only manager who's been totally against him being there.
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It may just be one of those things where they felt they could use the money to reshape the squad in other areas, and as he was in demand it was an easy move.
Like we did in reverse with Crouch many years ago. Hopefully it works out the same way.
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I don't particularly agree with what Rudy is saying, but Southampton have had 5 managers since Poch, so your response doesn't really stack up either.
True, but they've also had Bertrand who has been on the fringe of the England squad for most of that time.
To have as many appearances as he's had, with a half season loan away suggests Targett was pretty highly rated there for a long time. A five year deal 2 years ago backs that up. Hassenhuttl clearly doesn't like him, which is why he's with us, but I don't think that means all that much as he's the only manager who's been totally against him being there.
I'm not making any comment on his abilities - I'm hoping he'll be just fine.
But ADS' facetious comment "So to he clear, Poch couldn't get him to be a first rate full back at 18, so we're to infer that Smith will struggle to get anything out of the now 23 year old. Gotcha" doesn't really respond to the point Rudy was making.
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Don't know a fat lot about him but welcome. Hope he does well.
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I don't particularly agree with what Rudy is saying, but Southampton have had 5 managers since Poch, so your response doesn't really stack up either.
True, but they've also had Bertrand who has been on the fringe of the England squad for most of that time.
To have as many appearances as he's had, with a half season loan away suggests Targett was pretty highly rated there for a long time. A five year deal 2 years ago backs that up. Hassenhuttl clearly doesn't like him, which is why he's with us, but I don't think that means all that much as he's the only manager who's been totally against him being there.
I'm not making any comment on his abilities - I'm hoping he'll be just fine.
But ADS' facetious comment "So to he clear, Poch couldn't get him to be a first rate full back at 18, so we're to infer that Smith will struggle to get anything out of the now 23 year old. Gotcha" doesn't really respond to the point Rudy was making.
Well it does when the comment before it specifically states that Shaw had 25 appearances under poch when he was U18 (I agree that the first comment makes no reference to Poch though). 70 appearances in 4 1/2 seasons, with a fringe England international in front of him isn't evidence that 5 managers didn't rate him, it's evidence of a player who was breaking through until the current manager arrived who decided he didn't want him.
Or, to put it another way, both points are pretty meaningless in terms of deciding how he'll do at Villa. From what I've seen (mostly at Fulham) he'll give us enough going forward to allow our left winger to tuck inside but works back well enough to not see us getting exposed. My very low bar is someone who can cross a moving ball because I'm utterly fed up of seeing Taylor get the ball in space and take 4-5 touches before playing a short pass inside or hitting a stopped ball 5ft over the heads of our players in the box.
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Agreed. I'm hoping he will be one of the better fullbacks we've had for some time and am looking forward to seeing him.
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It appears that his transfer to Villa has given the opportunity for some tabloid newspapers websites to print/post pictures of his girlfriend Jasmine Buckle in her bikini.
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As Poch is the beat manager in the league pound for pound and he managed Southampton while Targett was there, so I referenced him rather than the journeymen quoted.
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I don't particularly agree with what Rudy is saying, but Southampton have had 5 managers since Poch, so your response doesn't really stack up either.
True, but they've also had Bertrand who has been on the fringe of the England squad for most of that time.
To have as many appearances as he's had, with a half season loan away suggests Targett was pretty highly rated there for a long time. A five year deal 2 years ago backs that up. Hassenhuttl clearly doesn't like him, which is why he's with us, but I don't think that means all that much as he's the only manager who's been totally against him being there.
When you say the manager clearly doesn't like him, has he told you that himself Paul E? Perhaps they have had discussions and the manager and player have come to an agreement that he could leave to get more playing time. Can't find any quotes from the Southampton manager that he doesn't rate Matt Targett.
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y
It appears that his transfer to Villa has given the opportunity for some tabloid newspapers websites to print/post pictures of his girlfriend Jasmine Buckle in her bikini.
That's appalling frankly, utterly sexist behaviour.
Did you get a glimpse of her snatch?
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Pleased with this signing, £11m upfront is modest by current market norms (which are bonkers). He will be a better player than Taylor and we now have two left backs plus Hause to cover.
He will fit Smiths system quite well and he looked good at Fulham. We can't spend huge on every position, this will do fine.
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I dont think it's a case of not being liked, from what I gather they needed to raise funds for a centre half and others. It was either him or Bertrand going.
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I dont think it's a case of not being liked, from what I gather they needed to raise funds for a centre half and others. It was either him or Bertrand going.
That's what a south coast reporter just said on Talksport a few minutes ago. Not much difference in ability but Targett more valuable due to age, so they sold him, and used the funds to buy Adams.
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I dont think it's a case of not being liked, from what I gather they needed to raise funds for a centre half and others. It was either him or Bertrand going.
That's what a south coast reporter just said on Talksport a few minutes ago. Not much difference in ability but Targett more valuable due to age, so they sold him, and used the funds to buy Adams.
Good to hear he rates them similarly. I thought Bertrand was a good player for us at first before he was Lamberted.
There's a stat going around that he was the 3rd or 4th most creative full back out of those who made 10 starts or more. We're not going to bore our way to survival.
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I can't understand why anybody isn't pleased this with deal. We needed an upgrade on Neil Taylor, and now we have one.
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I can't understand why anybody isn't pleased this with deal. We needed an upgrade on Neil Taylor, and now we have one.
is very simply what I thought too
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Agreed I’m struggling to remember the last time we had a decent LB, Bouma perhaps?
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
We can only hope. Unlike Staunton, he's had very little experience. We'll need to be patient as he's still work in progress. Let's hope Dean and our coaches can develop the player into a first rate full back, something that Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and Ralph Hassenhutti failed to do.
Welcome Matt.
He was 18 when Poch left Southampton. Bit of a straw man argument.
Luke Shaw had made 25 first team appearances before his 18th birthday. Shaw is two months older than Matt.
So to he clear, Poch couldn't get him to be a first rate full back at 18, so we're to infer that Smith will struggle to get anything out of the now 23 year old. Gotcha.
Stop being so silly.
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At £11 million for a PL fullback you're almost talking about a bargain in the current loony market.
Concerned about the lack of pace, but Stan Staunton would never have been mistaken for a sprinter. His good qualities (particularly in his first spell) negated the other issues, so hopefully this lad will do the same.
We can only hope. Unlike Staunton, he's had very little experience. We'll need to be patient as he's still work in progress. Let's hope Dean and our coaches can develop the player into a first rate full back, something that Ronald Koeman, Claude Puel, Mauricio Pellegrino, Mark Hughes and Ralph Hassenhutti failed to do.
Welcome Matt.
He was 18 when Poch left Southampton. Bit of a straw man argument.
Luke Shaw had made 25 first team appearances before his 18th birthday. Shaw is two months older than Matt.
I'm not really sure what relevance that has, Shaw is bigger and faster, at 18 that makes a massive difference. His lack of technical ability and positional sense (along with a couple of injuries) are why it took 4 seasons with united before he was trusted to play regularly. Targett is a very different type of player so judging their progress against each other under the age of 21-22 is pointless.
I don't know how Targett will get on but I wouldn't write him off because he wasn't playing under Poch when he was 18.
I would hope Shaw was at least bigger than Targett, what being a centre back. The "relevance" is they were both products of the Saints' youth system, same age, same team, what's interesting is Targett was seen then as the one they expected to be the star. For whatever reason(s) he never took advantage his opportunity when given the chance, Shaw did.
More encouraging and more recent is the glowing references he got from his time at Fulham. Not only did he help them get promoted (what was that mental unbeaten run they went on - 21 games?) they also thought highly enough of him to make a £10m offer to buy him but Southampton wanted £20m.
I'm certainly not writing him off though I do think he's a risk. Sometimes players need to move on from a club they've been at since a kid to improve and develop. I think Targett falls into that category. Time will tell but I wish him every success.
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Is there much disgrace in not being able to dislodge Bertrand ?
Southampton in recent years have been battling relegation, it's understandable they'd want their older heads at the back.
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Let’s just wait and see, his credentials look promising, as did a couple of his highlights on MOTD at the end of the season when he was playing further up the pitch.
Welcome Matt.
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I can't understand why anybody isn't pleased this with deal. We needed an upgrade on Neil Taylor, and now we have one.
upgrade on Neil Taylor is a very low benchmark to be applying in fairness. Wouldnt mind Hause being our backup left back to be honest and seeing if a championship side (Swansea maybe) might pick up Taylor off us.
Targett's lack of pace is a really worry and has very little experience really. Struggling to get into a rubbish Southampton side doesnt exactly set the pulses racing.
Not impressed with this one I have to say, nor Jota either.
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I thought Shaw was a left back? And he's half an inch taller than Targett according to Google.
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I thought Shaw was a left back? And he's half an inch taller than Targett according to Google.
Same size as Jota then?
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I don't particularly agree with what Rudy is saying, but Southampton have had 5 managers since Poch, so your response doesn't really stack up either.
True, but they've also had Bertrand who has been on the fringe of the England squad for most of that time.
To have as many appearances as he's had, with a half season loan away suggests Targett was pretty highly rated there for a long time. A five year deal 2 years ago backs that up. Hassenhuttl clearly doesn't like him, which is why he's with us, but I don't think that means all that much as he's the only manager who's been totally against him being there.
When you say the manager clearly doesn't like him, has he told you that himself Paul E? Perhaps they have had discussions and the manager and player have come to an agreement that he could leave to get more playing time. Can't find any quotes from the Southampton manager that he doesn't rate Matt Targett.
Does "doesn't like enough to keep and sell Bertrand instead" or "doesn't like enough to not consider expendable" cover it better? I think he's wrong and that he'll do well for us but this deal just doesn't scream that they're reluctant to see him leave and with him getting 20ish games for them last year I'm not sure he'd have been pushing for a move either. There was also a comment earlier in the thread that suggested Hussenhattl thought he was too weak and slow.
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Is there much disgrace in not being able to dislodge Bertrand ?
Southampton in recent years have been battling relegation, it's understandable they'd want their older heads at the back.
I just hope he's better than the Bertrand we saw a few years ago at VP.
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I know nothing about the lad, but gives me an excuse to post this:
https://vimeo.com/8663142
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This signing reminds me of when Brian Little bought Alan Wright. I wasn’t really aware of him before we signed him, as he was playing second fiddle to Graeme Le Saux at Blackburn. I used to love having him and Gary Charles as wing backs. His goal at WHL was truly stunning. Hopefully Targett will be as good a signing as Wright.
I realise that, like an old bastard, I have just used a vague similitude to reminisce about something from my youth.
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Multiple Saints "sources" stating he's as thick as pigshit, maybe they're just sore that they've lost their nice but dim one.
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Well he looked a nice lad with his parents, partner and Deano before. Sort of young man you'd let your daughter out with.
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Appalling interview on the OS, like the interviewer is teeing him up to make constipated-sounding "massive club" quotes. It doesn't have to be this way.
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Welcome to Aston Villa Matt. I don’t know if you’re any good or if you’re genuinely thick as fuck...but please give your everything and don’t be shite.
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Appalling interview on the OS, like the interviewer is teeing him up to make constipated-sounding "massive club" quotes. It doesn't have to be this way.
i was waiting for the interviewer to ask him what he’d had for his tea
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Our interviews are horrible to listen to. I gave it a shot and lasted a minute or so. Syrupy bollocks.
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We're a massive club though. And Dean Smith? Working under him will be great won't it? I was going to ask you that next actually -
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I agree. It's getting a bit ridiculous now - the brief is make sure they say massive club, great history fantastic fans. I really hope if we get Kalvin Phillips he doesn't keep pumping him to say how excited he is to be at such a massive club with such great fans as I think it would make him very uncomfortable coming from Leeds.
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Massive club
Great set of lads
Huge fan base
I wanted to be a part of what the manager is doing here
Great history
Can't wait to get started
Fantastic stadium
Back to where this club belongs
We really should move away from this wank style of questioning meaning we always get the above set of standard bingo answers. It's absolutely shite and a waste of their 'effort' producing the interviews.
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Isn’t this just about the case for every footballer interview ever though? It’s rare that you get someone who says what they really think, and the ones that do tend to get negative press from newspapers/fans, so you can see why most would avoid it.
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I agree. It's getting a bit ridiculous now - the brief is make sure they say massive club, great history fantastic fans. I really hope if we get Kalvin Phillips he doesn't keep pumping him to say how excited he is to be at such a massive club with such great fans as I think it would make him very uncomfortable coming from Leeds.
Leeds are a big club, but we are bigger in every comparable way. We are also not notorious for having some of the worst behaved fans in the country and for allegedly not winning in the 'right way' during our most successful period. So he could say it and if it makes him feel a bit more comfortable he could put a little side note in that he cherished his time playing for another big English club. Personally though, i probably won't watch it either way as it will just be like watching all of the other new player interviews and will probably send me to sleep after 60 seconds, as others have said.
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Are you expecting and Andrew Neil style grilling? Maybe a tearful confession of some traumatic event that drives him?
It's the same stuff up and down the land. A fluff piece.
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So, Matt, could you give us your thoughts and criticisms on Descartes 'Discourse on the method'?
How do you see it's points as applying to a football philosophy? Is such a thing possible?
Discuss.
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I agree. It's getting a bit ridiculous now - the brief is make sure they say massive club, great history fantastic fans. I really hope if we get Kalvin Phillips he doesn't keep pumping him to say how excited he is to be at such a massive club with such great fans as I think it would make him very uncomfortable coming from Leeds.
Leeds are a big club, but we are bigger in every comparable way. We are also not notorious for having some of the worst behaved fans in the country and for allegedly not winning in the 'right way' during our most successful period. So he could say it and if it makes him feel a bit more comfortable he could put a little side note in that he cherished his time playing for another big English club. Personally though, i probably won't watch it either way as it will just be like watching all of the other new player interviews and will probably send me to sleep after 60 seconds, as others have said.
Exactly. There's no comparison to be made between us and Leeds. They're not even remotely as big or successful. They're where they belong.
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I agree. It's getting a bit ridiculous now - the brief is make sure they say massive club, great history fantastic fans. I really hope if we get Kalvin Phillips he doesn't keep pumping him to say how excited he is to be at such a massive club with such great fans as I think it would make him very uncomfortable coming from Leeds.
Leeds are a big club, but we are bigger in every comparable way. We are also not notorious for having some of the worst behaved fans in the country and for allegedly not winning in the 'right way' during our most successful period. So he could say it and if it makes him feel a bit more comfortable he could put a little side note in that he cherished his time playing for another big English club. Personally though, i probably won't watch it either way as it will just be like watching all of the other new player interviews and will probably send me to sleep after 60 seconds, as others have said.
You've missed the point though. A player who is a life long Leeds fan won't want to say this and fans of the club won't want to hear it. It would be like Grealish going to Liverpool and being forced to bang on about what a huge club they are - it's unnecessary and just rubs salt in the wound all round.
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Dont talk soft. I'm Villa mental, but if somebody bigger than us was going to be trippling my wages I'd have no qualms of telling the truth about joining another club.
It's not like he's a teenager being forced to go to his grandmothers for Sunday lunch. The player likely wants the move.
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It seems a bit of a mental thing to get yourself into a state over. A player is hardly going to come in and say "didn't even know where Aston was, but they have offered me a pay increase and the missus says there are lots of fancy shops in a place called the Mailbox so this will do for now".
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I agree. It's getting a bit ridiculous now - the brief is make sure they say massive club, great history fantastic fans. I really hope if we get Kalvin Phillips he doesn't keep pumping him to say how excited he is to be at such a massive club with such great fans as I think it would make him very uncomfortable coming from Leeds.
Leeds are a big club, but we are bigger in every comparable way. We are also not notorious for having some of the worst behaved fans in the country and for allegedly not winning in the 'right way' during our most successful period. So he could say it and if it makes him feel a bit more comfortable he could put a little side note in that he cherished his time playing for another big English club. Personally though, i probably won't watch it either way as it will just be like watching all of the other new player interviews and will probably send me to sleep after 60 seconds, as others have said.
You've missed the point though. A player who is a life long Leeds fan won't want to say this and fans of the club won't want to hear it. It would be like Grealish going to Liverpool and being forced to bang on about what a huge club they are - it's unnecessary and just rubs salt in the wound all round.
I agree with you Chris, if any player wants to say these things about Villa unprompted then I'm delighted to hear it, but I don't need to hear platitudes about the club that might as well have been thrown up on a vidiprompter for someone to read off. As you say, it's even worse when the player is clearly uncomfortable in the moment.
There's plenty of other questions to ask if he ends up signing for us. I'd go a bit cheeky with it personally. "You'll have seen the passion of the players, the fans, the manager and coaching staff first-hand last season - were you surprised to get the call, and what does it mean to be signing for a Premier League club after the rollercoaster season you've had?"
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Easy there Paxman.
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Easy there Paxman.
Well I'd prefer that over the usual nonsense, might aswell tease out some personality and character from the new signings or else what's the point. Do it well or don't do it at all. Targett looked like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world than sitting on that chair talking to that eejit, so I'd rather see the interviewers have a bit of fun with it. Generally someone who isn't completely out of their depth asking questions will be able to toe the line appropriately while raising the mood a little bit. I mean it's not rocket science either is it
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Maybe Tyrone's will be along the lines of 'the missus thinks Birmingham is a bit of a shit hole but I talked her into it.'
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It seems a bit of a mental thing to get yourself into a state over. A player is hardly going to come in and say "didn't even know where Aston was, but they have offered me a pay increase and the missus says there are lots of fancy shops in a place called the Mailbox so this will do for now".
I'm not in a state over it I'm simply commenting on a forum post that someone else has raised that I happen to agree with.
And why is everything so black and white with you? So either a player has to fawn over a club in an entirely insincere way or be massively disrespectful? You seriously can't envisage somewhere between these two poles?
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I'm not mad, you're mad. Classic.
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It's all part of the 'game' around transfers, isn't it?
Yadayada massive club, great history, great fans, nice shirts, lovely badge, cool ground, yaaawwwwn.
Just ignore it.
I can't believe anyone watches OS interviews expecting to hear anything illuminating.
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It's all part of the 'game' around transfers, isn't it?
Yadayada massive club, great history, great fans, nice shirts, lovely badge, cool ground, yaaawwwwn.
Just ignore it.
I can't believe anyone watches OS interviews expecting to hear anything illuminating.
just once you would love to hear the player call the previous manager an arsehole for not picking him
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It seems a bit of a mental thing to get yourself into a state over. A player is hardly going to come in and say "didn't even know where Aston was, but they have offered me a pay increase and the missus says there are lots of fancy shops in a place called the Mailbox so this will do for now".
I'm not in a state over it I'm simply commenting on a forum post that someone else has raised that I happen to agree with.
And why is everything so black and white with you? So either a player has to fawn over a club in an entirely insincere way or be massively disrespectful? You seriously can't envisage somewhere between these two poles?
You do sound a bit in a state, to be honest...
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Grow up, the pair of you
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It's all part of the 'game' around transfers, isn't it?
Yadayada massive club, great history, great fans, nice shirts, lovely badge, cool ground, yaaawwwwn.
Just ignore it.
I can't believe anyone watches OS interviews expecting to hear anything illuminating.
Pick questions from Off Topic on here, I'm sure we'd get more insight into someone's character from "Who's the last celebrity you saw, and were they any good", "Weather", and "Three word chain story" than we do from the banalities they currently get asked.
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I’d buy that internal club interviewer a copy of Richard Herrings Emergency Questions.
Have you ever seen a ghost?
What’s the strangest thing you’ve found in the embers of a bonfire?
Would you prefer a hand made out of ham or an armpit that dispensed sun lotion?
Much more interesting.
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I think we should do a version of the Peoples Front of Judea 'Romans' test.
Q Listen. If you wanted to join Aston Villa you'd have to really hate the Blues.
A I do!
Q Oh, yeah? How much?
A A lot!
Q Right. You're in.
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Welcome to Aston Villa Matt let's hope we have some Matt finish this season I'll get my coat.
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Welcome to Aston Villa Matt let's hope we have some Matt finish this season I'll get my coat.
No need to start getting all emulsional.
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Welcome to Aston Villa Matt let's hope we have some Matt finish this season I'll get my coat.
No need to start getting all emulsional.
I'll gloss over that comment!
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Welcome to Aston Villa Matt let's hope we have some Matt finish this season I'll get my coat.
No need to start getting all emulsional.
I'll gloss over that comment!
This is like walking on eggshell(s) 😇
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Why are people priming these set ups?
Roller on the next signing we can coverall
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We're definitely doing more than just (wall) papering over the cracks with this signing.
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We're definitely doing more than just (wall) papering over the cracks with this signing.
Should be able to brush off a number of teams.
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He's what we need. Will stay out on the left ploughing his own furrow and ball player to boot.
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I’d buy that internal club interviewer a copy of Richard Herrings Emergency Questions.
Have you ever seen a ghost?
What’s the strangest thing you’ve found in the embers of a bonfire?
Would you prefer a hand made out of ham or an armpit that dispensed sun lotion?
Much more interesting.
RHLSTP......rhlstp
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Welcome to Aston Villa Matt let's hope we have some Matt finish this season I'll get my coat.
No need to start getting all emulsional.
Love it lol.
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Thought it was a promising first league appearance, playing his part in a good first half performance today. Him going off injured certainly wasn’t helpful, compounded by Taylor having his worse game of the season.
Hopefully just a case of not being up to speed/fully fit from his first injury rather than being a bit injury prone.
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Thought it was a promising first league appearance, playing his part in a good first half performance today. Him going off injured certainly wasn’t helpful, compounded by Taylor having his worse game of the season.
Hopefully just a case of not being up to speed/fully fit from his first injury rather than being a bit injury prone.
Yes, it was really encouraging to see him so far up the pitch and offering an attacking threat. A clear upgrade on Neil Taylor for that alone.
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he was highly instrumental in the build up to SJM's first goal. I like him.
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I think he had cramp so should be ok.
I thought he did well and an improvement on Taylor.
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I think he’ll be good.
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I think he had cramp so should be ok.
I thought he did well and an improvement on Taylor.
Where did you hear cramp? I'm hoping that's all it is as we need him next weekend.
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DS said in his post match interview "I thought Matt Targett played really well. He felt his other hamstring. We're hoping it's cramp more than anything else."
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The lad was good however only about 100% improvement on Taylor. Did anyone notice his little play at halfway line that led to VAR disallowed goal?
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I didn’t think he was any more than adequate in his general play but what did impress me were the forward positions he took up, it meant we had width and numbers much higher up the field than we have had previously.
Promising.
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I didn’t think he was any more than adequate in his general play but what did impress me were the forward positions he took up, it meant we had width and numbers much higher up the field than we have had previously.
Promising.
If Grealish is going to be used in that more advanced role, then it is key we have a full back on that side who can make those overlapping runs and put a decent ball into the box.
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Yeah. I don’t think targett is a particularly great player but he’s the right type of player to help Smith set the team up the way he wants which goes a long way. We looked a lot better with him on the pitch.
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Agreed. Think it is key to the way that Dean Smith wants to play that we have two good attacking outlets from full back.
Was a lovely cross for McGinns header in the first couple of minutes as well.
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The lad was good however only about 100% improvement on Taylor. Did anyone notice his little play at halfway line that led to VAR disallowed goal?
No. Please describe.
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The lad was good however only about 100% improvement on Taylor. Did anyone notice his little play at halfway line that led to VAR disallowed goal?
No. Please describe.
He beat two players having received the ball from Marvelous. In fairness he got a bit lucky but it was a nice bit of play overall. He’s a massive upgrade and 3 inches taller which leads me to believe outside of basic ability he would have defended their first and second goals better than Taylor did.
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I'm really glad Targett is breaking into the team now, a couple of changes (Luiz for Houri and Trez for AEG) and I think we're at our strongest side now. I'd play Mcginn on the right cutting in and Trez on the left cutting in, get the fullbacks bombing forward to provide width and crossing and then have Jack in a free role as an 8 with Luiz and Nakamba sitting in behind as defensive cover and to get the ball from the defense to Jack so he doesn't come too deep. We couldn't play that way with Taylor in the team because he just isn't a good enough crosser and can't get up and down the pitch well enough so he is always 10-20 yards behind play.
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Thought he looked very tidy.
Worried by how easily he gets twinges and knocks - he's only been with us since the summer and that's two hamstring injuries with just 60 odd minutes of League football under his belt.
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Might just be a case of him starting two games in four days, having only played forty minutes of football in near enough two months before that.
Don’t think it was a problem at Southampton last season or Fulham before that, so hopefully not a major concern.
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My worry with Targett is that he was an "obvious" transfer target (sorry) like Nicky Shorey was under O'Neill. An English left back with a reputation for playing decent football that a few other teams were sniffing around, who then turns out to be desperately disappointing. I really hope this isn't the case, but a £14m player taking this long to dislodge the extremely average Neil Taylor isn't a great sign.
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He was a definite upgrade and we are left to wonder why he was left out for so long when he went off his replacement was dreadful.
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He was injured for the previous 2/3 games prior to Saturday, so it took him three games (where Taylor played reasonably well) to take his place.
I Smith’s logic behind starting Taylor the season as left back was to do with keeping some consistency within a new team, given he played the last half of the previous season next to Mings and behind El Ghazi.
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My worry with Targett is that he was an "obvious" transfer target (sorry) like Nicky Shorey was under O'Neill. An English left back with a reputation for playing decent football that a few other teams were sniffing around, who then turns out to be desperately disappointing. I really hope this isn't the case, but a £14m player taking this long to dislodge the extremely average Neil Taylor isn't a great sign.
Isn’t a large part of the reason he’s taken so long to get into the team because he’s been injured and in the meantime Taylor has performed well? Making signings just because they appear obvious doesn’t appear to be a Smith trait based on business so far so probably more likely that he rates him.
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I thought he played well until his injury forced him off hope it's nothing serious.
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I didn’t think he was any more than adequate in his general play but what did impress me were the forward positions he took up, it meant we had width and numbers much higher up the field than we have had previously.
Promising.
Agreed. He was rarely tested defensively which is ideal when you're making your home debut. In front of him both Conor and Jack were busy and helped out a lot, a massive improvement on the left side (compared to Taylor/AEG) which allowed him to advance every now and then. His determined run leading to the VAR goal was great to see. He can also swing a decent cross.
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An udder of fresh milk. Haha.
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The free kick attempt he had was woeful but he's up in the penalty box in the 94 minute and lashed home the winner !! The clear value of an attacking left back.
Attacking wise he's a udder of fresh milk !
As we know Taylor short comings in his attacking forrays .
By all accounts defensively Targett wasn't brilliant and will likely have a torrid time in defense next Saturday against Man city.
However it's the right side of the fullback and position that is more concerning regards chances given up and that Guilbert despite many good things is found wanting both in positioning and being beaten or preventing crosses.
But what I enjoy about Targett is his movement forward and his providing of opportunities in his crosses , which though mixed, is offering an attacking contribution .
Brilliant goal and I can't help thinking what Tayls would have done in the 94th min.
But I think he wouldn't even be in the pen box!
Well done Matty ! Hopefully he stays fit and can actually be a contender for England left back once as he develops
Has all the attributes!
Great signing!
Not having a pop, genuine question, I’m curious if are you basing your analysis of both full backs on having watched the whole game? (Just the the ‘by all accounts’ suggests maybe not, and seems a very full opinion if you didn’t?) Not suggesting it’s not necessarily valid either.
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He was mostly crap on Saturday in an all round play sort of way, but he does get forward to join in attacks. He's got an assist and a goal in his last two games, which will do for from a left back. I'm certain his general play will improve once he's fully up to speed, and then we'll have a very good player on our hands. As john e rightly said earlier, the days of the likes of Taylor "not doing much wrong" are hopefully behind us. I'd be getting Hause on the bench now, because he seemed to like going forward as well. I hope that Taylor isn't picked against Man City for supposedly being better defensively.
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Kyle Walmart!! 😂
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Kyle Walmart!! 😂
That Asda be the best auto correct ever.
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https://www.walmart.com/store/4130/kyle-tx
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https://www.walmart.com/store/4130/kyle-tx
When on holiday in America, I like to walk around a Walmart taking photos of all the products called "cream pie" eg
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Yoplait-Light-Boston-Cream-Pie-Fat-Free-Yogurt-6-Oz/10320986
A man's got to have a hobby.
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Still probably not fully fit just yet. Reminds me a bit of Lowton when he was with us.
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So want him to be the man but was way short on Saturday bar the goal of course. Would play Taylor or hause at city
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So want him to be the man but was way short on Saturday bar the goal of course. Would play Taylor or hause at city
Neil Taylor? Against Manchester City? What are you smoking?
The last game Neil Taylor played for us was his substitute appearance vs Burnley when he came on for Targett around the 62 minute mark. 5 minutes later he was culpable for their first goal via some terrible marking against Rodriguez who out-muscled him as if he were a schoolboy to head home. He was culpable again for their second when Lowton made him look a mug and crossed the ball as if he weren't even there for Wood for finish off.
If he can't defend against the likes of Rodriguez and Lowton he will get eaten alive by the quality of City's attack. The same might happen to Targett for all I know, but at least he won't look like one of the chuckle brothers in possession.
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So want him to be the man but was way short on Saturday bar the goal of course. Would play Taylor or hause at city
Neil Taylor? Against Manchester City? What are you smoking?
The last game Neil Taylor played for us was his substitute appearance vs Burnley when he came on for Targett around the 62 minute mark. 5 minutes later he was culpable for their first goal via some terrible marking against Rodriguez who out-muscled him as if he were a schoolboy to head home. He was culpable again for their second when Lowton made him look a mug and crossed the ball as if he weren't even there for Wood for finish off.
If he can't defend against the likes of Rodriguez and Lowton he will get eaten alive by the quality of City's attack. The same might happen to Targett for all I know, but at least he won't look like one of the chuckle brothers in possession.
Agreed, on top of which Hause hasn't even been in the squad at all this season. I'm more than happy with the way Targett is progressing, and I think his introduction to the squad has really helped Grealish flourish.
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So want him to be the man but was way short on Saturday bar the goal of course. Would play Taylor or hause at city
Neil Taylor? Against Manchester City? What are you smoking?
The last game Neil Taylor played for us was his substitute appearance vs Burnley when he came on for Targett around the 62 minute mark. 5 minutes later he was culpable for their first goal via some terrible marking against Rodriguez who out-muscled him as if he were a schoolboy to head home. He was culpable again for their second when Lowton made him look a mug and crossed the ball as if he weren't even there for Wood for finish off.
If he can't defend against the likes of Rodriguez and Lowton he will get eaten alive by the quality of City's attack. The same might happen to Targett for all I know, but at least he won't look like one of the chuckle brothers in possession.
Agreed, on top of which Hause hasn't even been in the squad at all this season. I'm more than happy with the way Targett is progressing, and I think his introduction to the squad has really helped Grealish flourish.
We just look a better team in general and it's in small part down to the fact that teams can't just ignore our fullbacks getting the ball. Throwing that away on the basis that Taylor is a marginally better defender is the sort of thinking that saw Bruce still getting support right up until he got his P45.
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Hause must be wondering why he's swapped Wolves bench for not even getting on ours. I know it's a squad game but LB is his best chance of a run in the team so if Targett struggling defensively is a recurring theme, I'd want Kourtney to get a chance in a few weeks time.
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To be fair, he wasn’t actually getting in their team in their last season in the Championship either.
I think he is probably viewed predominantly as a centre back by Dean Smith now anyway. He played his part in our winning streak there last season and has played both cup games in that position. I’m not sure he offers enough going forward to play as a premier league full back either.
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To be fair, he wasn’t actually getting in their team in their last season in the Championship either.
I think he is probably viewed predominantly as a centre back by Dean Smith now anyway. He played his part in our winning streak there last season and has played both cup games in that position. I’m not sure he offers enough going forward to play as a premier league full back either.
Hause offers presence though, particularly in the air. We are very vulnerable from set pieces with our first choice eleven. Wouldn't rule him out seeing game time at left back or cover for Mings.
Neil Taylor was nowhere near good enough for the championship, defensively or attacking. I'm not sure what came over Smith to make him first choice starting this season, the kind of decision Bruce or McLeish might have made and got dogs abuse for. Having Targett's ability on the ball on our left side has made us a much more coherent attacking force.
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I know it’s very simplistic terms to look at it in, but Brighton’s was the first goal we have conceded indirectly from a free kick/corner wasn’t it?
Hause definitely has useful attributes but I don’t think they really fit into how Dean Smith wants his fullbacks to play. I don’t think it’s unrelated that we are unbeaten since Targett and Guilbert were in the staring XI together.
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Neil Taylor was nowhere near good enough for the championship, defensively or attacking. I'm not sure what came over Smith to make him first choice starting this season, the kind of decision Bruce or McLeish might have made and got dogs abuse for. Having Targett's ability on the ball on our left side has made us a much more coherent attacking force.
Because he did well there?
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Did well again last night, his overlaps are definitely creating space for Grealish and their link-up play has been a real positive.
He puked last night didn't he? Was he ill or get a punch to the throat or something?
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Did well again last night, his overlaps are definitely creating space for Grealish and their link-up play has been a real positive.
He puked last night didn't he? Was he ill or get a punch to the throat or something?
Think I read he took a knock to the throat .
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He was night and day better last night than he was against Wolves.
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He was like a winger at times last night. Steve Staunton-esque the way he kept getting out onto the wing.
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Did well again last night, his overlaps are definitely creating space for Grealish and their link-up play has been a real positive.
He puked last night didn't he? Was he ill or get a punch to the throat or something?
Thought he was a lot better. Puked right by where I was sitting and made me feel queasy the rest of the game!! It was projectile sick so guessing illness!!
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He was night and day better last night than he was against Wolves.
True but last night, defensively and to my great surprise, he had very little to do. Pre-match I was very concerned he'd be up against Saint-Maxmin. Fortunately Bruce had him up against Freddie who could cope with his speed. As Mr Mullet says, Targett was allowed to get forward throughout the game, possibly because Newcastle were more concerned with Jack playing on the left.
It was an ideal game for Targett but away from home against stronger sides, I'd be tempted to bring in the superior defensive qualities of Taylor. All that said, Targett looked the business last night and seems to finally fitting in.
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How this idiot only got a yellow card for this disgraceful tackle (https://streamable.com/ortd7) is beyond belief.
He should have received a straight red card. Further proof that VAR is a load of shit.
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How this idiot only got a yellow card for this disgraceful tackle (https://streamable.com/ortd7) is beyond belief.
He should have received a straight red card. Further proof that VAR is a load of shit.
Are you absolutely sure you support Villa mate? Because you seem to fucking moan a lot about us.
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How this idiot only got a yellow card for this disgraceful tackle (https://streamable.com/ortd7) is beyond belief.
He should have received a straight red card. Further proof that VAR is a load of shit.
Disgraceful, my arse.
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It was a poor tackle and I doubt many would have complained about a red for it but your post is just a tad OTT.
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It was a poor tackle and I doubt many would have complained about a red for it but your post is just a tad OTT.
Not really. I'm watching the game back now and it's worse than I thought it was.
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How this idiot only got a yellow card for this disgraceful tackle (https://streamable.com/ortd7) is beyond belief.
He should have received a straight red card. Further proof that VAR is a load of shit.
Disgraceful, my arse.
If any of our players were on the receiving end of that we'd be fuming, don't lie to yourself.
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Gotta say it was a very poor challenge. Ricardo was a pain all game (from our perspective) and there was definite needle between him and Jack too (especially after the penalty claim).
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Horrible tackle, red card for me. VAR looked at it, so I got it wrong.
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Nah, clear cut yellow card. He's in more pain from landing on the track around the side of the pitch.
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How this idiot only got a yellow card for this disgraceful tackle (https://streamable.com/ortd7) is beyond belief.
He should have received a straight red card. Further proof that VAR is a load of shit.
Disgraceful, my arse.
Mine too, especially if I’ve had too much fruit.
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Yes, it was a poor tackle and luckily he only got a yellow. Nothing else to be said really.
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It was a poor tackle and I doubt many would have complained about a red for it but your post is just a tad OTT.
Not really. I'm watching the game back now and it's worse than I thought it was.
The fact that you're "watching the game back" when we lost four one is probably going to confirm a lot of opinions about you...
The tackle was borderline yellow/red, to be fair. But I think your post just drifted into hysterical, as usual.
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It was a poor tackle and I doubt many would have complained about a red for it but your post is just a tad OTT.
Not really. I'm watching the game back now and it's worse than I thought it was.
The fact that you're "watching the game back" when we lost four one is probably going to confirm a lot of opinions about you...
You know what they say about opinions and arseholes..?
I watch all the games back - win, lose or draw.
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It was a poor tackle and I doubt many would have complained about a red for it but your post is just a tad OTT.
Not really. I'm watching the game back now and it's worse than I thought it was.
The fact that you're "watching the game back" when we lost four one is probably going to confirm a lot of opinions about you...
The tackle was borderline yellow/red, to be fair. But I think your post just drifted into hysterical, as usual.
In fairness, we don't play again until Saturday. He has to have something to moan about in the meantime.
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It was clearly a yellow, yes his foot was raised but it was across the front of the player rather than into him and was him trying to get a flick on the ball in passing. If you give that as a red then you could give 2-3 a game. Both the ref and VAR official looked at and agreed with that.
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Definite red. Horrendous tackle.
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Should have been a red in my opinion, that was an awful 'tackle'. He catches their player on the calf/shin - midway up his lower leg.
I still to this day hate Carlos Bocanegra for ruining Mark Delaney's career.
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On a side note I never have time to watch games back. And I certainly never watch a game back when we’ve lost 4-1. I do still occasionally watch Tranmere at home again though.
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Horrendous tackle and a straight red all day long. Must say it didn't look as bad sitting in the crowd, but a lot of things don't - barring the overall performance.
We sure seem to like a Left-Back with a vicious tackle in his repertoire.
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Definite red. Horrendous tackle.
I've just watched if for the first time and agree, definite Red.
If VAR was used then VAR was wrong
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May be remembering this wrong but didn't Targett take real exception to a tackle on him in the first half? I think he issued a receipt.
He'd have had no complaints if it was a red. Although I'm not really sure what the fuss is about, him and Ricardo will have shaken hands at the end of the game and moved on. It's not ballet.
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Yep, red for me too.
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May be remembering this wrong but didn't Targett take real exception to a tackle on him in the first half? I think he issued a receipt.
He'd have had no complaints if it was a red. Although I'm not really sure what the fuss is about, him and Ricardo will have shaken hands at the end of the game and moved on. It's not ballet.
Nor is it UFC. I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy seeing players getting their legs broken.
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May be remembering this wrong but didn't Targett take real exception to a tackle on him in the first half? I think he issued a receipt.
He'd have had no complaints if it was a red. Although I'm not really sure what the fuss is about, him and Ricardo will have shaken hands at the end of the game and moved on. It's not ballet.
Nor is it UFC. I don't know about you, but I don't enjoy seeing players getting their legs broken.
And nobody had their legs broken.
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The more you look at it the worse it gets
I would be raging if that was done to our player and it was not a red
I don't think it was malicious but certainly reckless and dangerous
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That challenge isn't a leg breaker in any way.
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That challenge isn't a leg breaker in any way.
Certain red all day, no excuse for being that high and late. If an tackle like that was put in on Grealish or one of our players, this forum would have gone into meltdown.
I have my strong suspicions on Targett's character already I must say. Seemed a touch convenient his injury v Wolves when he was getting destroyed. That tackle on Ricardo was looking for a red, in a get me off the pitch type effort. Again he was getting destroyed at the time. Didnt he pick up a yellow against Chelsea in another petulant type late effort when getting torn a new one. Bit of a regular theme for our 16m left back...
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Unfortunately I agree. This player seems to lack moral fibre and comes across as a bit of a wimp. We overpaid for him by at least 100%.
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i like him
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That challenge isn't a leg breaker in any way.
It was late, high, with studs showing and excessive force on a player's shin. So, naturally, "not a leg breaker in any way". Unfortunately this is about the level of analysis I've come to expect from you.
Watch it again and tell me people haven't had horrific breaks from similar. It was a dangerous tackle and he should've walked for it.
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There's some pretty harsh comments on Targett here.
I agree it could have been a red, but not that it was deliberately nasty.
I think he's mostly been pretty decent for us and can't really understand this negativity towards him. It seems some people just aren't happy unless they're slagging off our incumbant left back, whoever thast may be.
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His delivery is very good, he links up well with Grealish, he over laps well, I like what he offers us going forward.
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There's some pretty harsh comments on Targett here.
I agree it could have been a red, but not that it was deliberately nasty.
I think he's mostly been pretty decent for us and can't really understand this negativity towards him. It seems some people just aren't happy unless they're slagging off our incumbant left back, whoever thast may be.
Irrational hatred of left backs? Or maybe we have had a stream of utterly useless ones? Bouma had a solid season or two before his injury but I can't recall another one that was passable until the Stan and Alan Wright days.
The latest vintage has a decent left foot on him but that's it. Dreadful defender at this level. Scouting for this one is on Dean Smith.
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There's some pretty harsh comments on Targett here.
I agree it could have been a red, but not that it was deliberately nasty.
I think he's mostly been pretty decent for us and can't really understand this negativity towards him. It seems some people just aren't happy unless they're slagging off our incumbant left back, whoever thast may be.
The latest vintage has a decent left foot on him but that's it. Dreadful defender at this level. Scouting for this one is on Dean Smith.
Probably best if you understood how our scouting network now works before going on rants.
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His delivery is very good, he links up well with Grealish, he over laps well, I like what he offers us going forward.
For what it's worth I agree, and I don't think the tackle was malicious, but dangerous nonetheless.
And however good he may be going forward, he is at least that bad at the back, and that's where the concern comes in for me.
Personally I'd give Hause (were he match fit) a shot at left back ahead of either Targett or Taylor.
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That challenge isn't a leg breaker in any way.
It was late, high, with studs showing and excessive force on a player's shin. So, naturally, "not a leg breaker in any way". Unfortunately this is about the level of analysis I've come to expect from you.
Watch it again and tell me people haven't had horrific breaks from similar. It was a dangerous tackle and he should've walked for it.
Lets do some analysis then. It's late, given he's sliding in there's not much he can do about that. It's high but if you watch he raises his foot to try to block the ball when it's clear he won't make the tackle, it's not high because it's misjudged or malicious. Studs showing isn't irrelevant because his studs aren't aimed at the player (due to the timing and angle) and don't make any contact, the actual contact is the inside of his heel going across the guys shin. You only have to have a basic understanding of how forces work to know why the angles and impact here make a broken leg a highly unlikely result.
Compare it to something like this - - where Taylor has studs up straight on to Coleman's shin and you can see what a true leg breaking challenge looks like. The only way a leg break happens in a side on challenge is if the tackled player has his foot planted and the tackle goes into his leg from the side instead across the front.
If Targett is half a second later or if his 'line' is 3-4 inches to his right then yes, red card and potentially a serious injury but that's just not what happened.
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Targett's understanding with Grealish is fantastic for me. Going forward on the left-side we look great, particularly with Conor in there.
For me it has to be Nakamba, Hourihane, Grealish and Targett - I think when Luiz comes in or Hourihane isn't there we look weaker down the left side defensively.
Luiz lacks the defensive nous and Hourihane smells the danger a little better.
Do agree Targett lacks defensive positional sense too though, which short-term may be a problem but he needs to improve.
Much like with Wesley upfront I think our squad lacks experience generally, we lost a lot of that in the Summer, we could do with one or two wiser heads in January.
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Not quite sure how you can say it's 'not a leg breaker in any way' Paul. People have had their legs broken by exactly that kind of tackle. The fact of the matter is that it didn't break his leg, but if Targett had been sent off i wouldn't have been surprised. He seemed to have a slightly insane grin on his face about it just after as well, not quite sure what that was all about.
As for the big picture, like most of the signing's we've made, he's young, inexperienced but looks promising in a lot of ways. I think he'll go on to be a decent signing.
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Not quite sure how you can say it's 'not a leg breaker in any way' Paul. People have had their legs broken by exactly that kind of tackle. The fact of the matter is that it didn't break his leg, but if Targett had been sent off i wouldn't have been surprised. He seemed to have a slightly insane grin on his face about it just after as well, not quite sure what that was all about.
As for the big picture, like most of the signing's we've made, he's young, inexperienced but looks promising in a lot of ways. I think he'll go on to be a decent signing.
I can say it because no professional footballer would suffer a broken leg in that impact, there's nothing like the concentrated force required. The way he made the tackle could've been a leg breaker in different circumstances, and I've never said it's not a bad tackle, but in context there was no risk of serious injury from it and there is no way to say that he made the challenge intending to hurt him so a red card would've been harsh, a view that the ref and VAR official quite clearly agree with. Again compare it to the Taylor/Coleman one and you'll see the difference between a poorly timed tackle and a leg-breaker.
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Jesus Paul, you don't half talk some shite at times. Unless you've got some extremely hi-tech gadgetry at home, you've absolutely no way of knowing whether there was enough force to break his leg. Look at the other player's foot at the moment of impact, it's bent at a very odd angle and he was extremely fortunate in my opinion to escape injury. And what's this nonsense about a "difference between a poorly timed tackle and a leg breaker"? It's completely possible for a tackle to be both.
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Jesus Paul, you don't half talk some shite at times. Unless you've got some extremely hi-tech gadgetry at home, you've absolutely no way of knowing whether there was enough force to break his leg. Look at the other player's foot at the moment of impact, it's bent at a very odd angle and he was extremely fortunate in my opinion to escape injury. And what's this nonsense about a "difference between a poorly timed tackle and a leg breaker"? It's completely possible for a tackle to be both.
Spot on.
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That challenge isn't a leg breaker in any way.
It was late, high, with studs showing and excessive force on a player's shin. So, naturally, "not a leg breaker in any way". Unfortunately this is about the level of analysis I've come to expect from you.
Watch it again and tell me people haven't had horrific breaks from similar. It was a dangerous tackle and he should've walked for it.
If Targett is half a second later or if his 'line' is 3-4 inches to his right then yes, red card and potentially a serious injury but that's just not what happened.
You do know you can get sent off for "intent" don't you? Just because the opposition player wasn't seriously injured doesn't mean it's not a red card offence. I suggest you take some time and look at the fa.com website because you clearly need it.
SENDING-OFF OFFENCES
"A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force"
Key word there being endangers. You said it yourself "if Targett was half a second later or if his 'line' is 3-4 inches to his right"
It's a red card offence, just accept you're wrong and move on.
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Do you know what, you all believe that the ref and VAR don't know the laws of the game as well as you and carry on thinking we got lucky with it, it's really not worth arguing over, he's not banned, I don't think he should be, you lot seemingly do.
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Yes, it's not like the VAR refs have been an unmitigated disaster this season is it.
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Jesus Paul, you don't half talk some shite at times. Unless you've got some extremely hi-tech gadgetry at home, you've absolutely no way of knowing whether there was enough force to break his leg. Look at the other player's foot at the moment of impact, it's bent at a very odd angle and he was extremely fortunate in my opinion to escape injury. And what's this nonsense about a "difference between a poorly timed tackle and a leg breaker"? It's completely possible for a tackle to be both.
I'm with Risso on this.
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Jesus Paul, you don't half talk some shite at times. Unless you've got some extremely hi-tech gadgetry at home, you've absolutely no way of knowing whether there was enough force to break his leg. Look at the other player's foot at the moment of impact, it's bent at a very odd angle and he was extremely fortunate in my opinion to escape injury. And what's this nonsense about a "difference between a poorly timed tackle and a leg breaker"? It's completely possible for a tackle to be both.
I'm with Risso on this.
It really doesn't need 'hi-tech gadgetry' to have a basic understanding of conservation of momentum and be able to apply it to a real world situation but again, it really doesn't matter enough for me to care if people disagree.
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Jesus Paul, you don't half talk some shite at times. Unless you've got some extremely hi-tech gadgetry at home, you've absolutely no way of knowing whether there was enough force to break his leg. Look at the other player's foot at the moment of impact, it's bent at a very odd angle and he was extremely fortunate in my opinion to escape injury. And what's this nonsense about a "difference between a poorly timed tackle and a leg breaker"? It's completely possible for a tackle to be both.
I'm with Risso on this.
It really doesn't need 'hi-tech gadgetry' to have a basic understanding of conservation of momentum and be able to apply it to a real world situation but again, it really doesn't matter enough for me to care if people disagree.
Haha fucking hell
I'm sure that's exactly what was going through Matt Targett's mind when he saw Pereira about to do him for pace (again): "Okay, time to absolutely burst this fella, but remember: conservation of momentum! If I go in a half-second too late, or I'm 3-4 inches to the right, it might be a dangerous one!"
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Well I've calculated the trajectory of Targett's leg, allowed a degree of uncertainty for the density of his shin pads, multiplied it by the number I first thought of, adjusted it for the Black-Scholes derivative pricing model, and concluded that it was still definitely a red card.
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What about the Duckworth-Lewis formula?
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This thread is similar to the Alan Hutton one after his tackle on Shane Long.
Unpopular player getting slated for a tackle.
Hutton, was absolutely hammered with comments like ‘Definitely a red’ ‘Animal’ ‘Should never wear Villa shirt again’ . All for a perfectly good, hard, tackle.
Difference being Targets was a foul. The ref deemed it a yellow, VAR didn’t disagree. Did he get lucky? Perhaps he did, but, maybe the ref was right in this instance.
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I bet no one insinuates these two support another team for saying exactly the same thing I did. ::)
Skip to 32:32
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He was reckless but not malicious, it happens in football. It was probably a red and I’m sure there would not of been too much argument.
However he’s alright, I like him, he’s better than anyone we’ve had their for a while. His link up play further up the pitch has been very good.
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The worst thing about the tackle for me was that it was one of those cowardly ones, knowing full well that his opponent was in no position to take evasive action or put in a forceful challenge of his own - in effect an unmissable target (pun intended). He was an 'extremely lucky boy' to have not been sent off and to have risked a 3 match ban for such a pointless gesture does him little credit.
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Two wrongs don’t make a right but if I remember correctly Targett was the victim of an equally bad tackle very early in the game where the Leicester player looked more out of control. Seeing the Targett tackle video it looks really bad but it was very close to me and did not look that bad at the time. Could easily have been a VAR red.
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A very disappointing start to his Villa career.
I've seen better full backs in the Championship.
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He's just very average. Not the worst footballer given he can cross and link up with Grealish but not a great defender at all. 14m for a Southampton reserve, we could've done better there.
Also seems to be wanting new year off given he's picked up three yellows in last three games with rash challenges.
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Yeah. I’ve been happy for him to be in there because he’s better than Taylor, but that’s a very low bar.
I have a mate who is a season ticket holder at Southampton and he told me he didn’t think we should sign him last summer. He actually described him as crap.
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He's good on the ball, but just too slow to be consistently good as a Premier League full back. Anybody with pace in their side pinpoint him, and he just can't handle it, see Wolves, Man U and Leicester for recent examples.
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He's good on the ball, but just too slow to be consistently good as a Premier League full back. Anybody with pace in their side pinpoint him, and he just can't handle it, see Wolves, Man U and Leicester for recent examples.
He certainly got targetted today (excusing the pun). Norwood and SheffU absolutely blitzed their right hand side.
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Yeah. I’ve been happy for him to be in there because he’s better than Taylor, but that’s a very low bar.
I have a mate who is a season ticket holder at Southampton and he told me he didn’t think we should sign him last summer. He actually described him as crap.
Your mate was right. Targett is crap. Serious lack of bottle too.
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He had a hard time today, overall I haven’t been that impressed
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Guilbert has been decent and has the pace to be a success in the Premier League. It's a mark of how inconsistent our transfer dealings were that we got a good young player like him for relative peanuts, but then spent three times as much on crap like Targett who wasn't wanted by Southampton.
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Completely and utterly useless.
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Championship full back for me. Can't believe we spent so much on him really.
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That's twice now in a matter of months Southampton have taken the piss.
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In a sea of dross he shone out as absolutely woeful. Whatever did anyone see in him? Shite.
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He's dross. Just as bad as all of the other dreadful left backs we've had in recent years. Rubbish.
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In a sea of dross he shone out as absolutely woeful. Whatever did anyone see in him? Shite.
He reminds me of a Steve Staunton, but without defensive ability, attacking ability, shooting
and bottle.
Waste of money.
That money should've been invested in a cliff top apartment, on the Amalfi coast, for me.
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He has looked poor recently
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That's twice now in a matter of months Southampton have taken the piss.
Very good
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He's never a left back, hes soft, lacks any defensive positional sense and cant defend. Despite all that I still think he offers us something going forward, left wing back or left midfielder maybe but no chance is he a left back.
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You can play Target as LB as long as you build in protection for his defensive frailties.
We don’t, we leave him exposed.
There are some games he should not start.
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You also need pace and a good engine to play wing back. He’s slow as all hell and appears as fit as an asthmatic chain smoker.
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You also need pace and a good engine to play wing back. He’s slow as all hell and appears as fit as an asthmatic chain smoker.
So it’s the asthmatic Lilly liveried chain smoker or the bloke who plays like he has put his boots on the wrong feet.
Tough call.
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Load of shit. Smith basically said he’s unfit the other day. Defensive liability and not even that good offensively imho certainly not enough to offset his other many weaknesses. He’s one 10th the player Guilbert is for 3 x the money.
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He does not look great. Like most of our players he doesn’t look like he does any fitness work.
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Saints fans on his side of the pitch must have been bowling over with laughter yesterday at the sight of their discombobulated former player and his new team.
Surely Suso could have found someone from the continent twice as good for half the price.
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Surely Suso could have found someone from the continent twice as good for half the price.
Based on his other finds? I'm not so sure.
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Load of shit. Smith basically said he’s unfit the other day. Defensive liability and not even that good offensively imho certainly not enough to offset his other many weaknesses. He’s one 10th the player Guilbert is for 3 x the money.
Targett specialises in getting himself out of position, and then running back into said position at about the speed I reach when headed for the front door on a Monday morning.
He is not the only one, but he definitely looks unfit, too.
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The other day Dean Smith suggested Matt Targett could one day play for England. What I think he meant to say was he will again be playing in England when we play our next PL game. Because if he meant to say what he actually he said he needs to carted off to the fucking nut house. Matt Targett at 14m is a back up LB at best and I'm being mightly generous.
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He’s in a competition with Marv, Wes, Trez and AEG for being the worst signing of the summer. Absolute waste of space and money the lot of them.
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This lad is garbage. Up there with Cissokho, and well, all of the rest of our less than stellar left backs of recent years.
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On about 85 minutes, Targett gave the ball back to Norwich really casually, and Jack absolutely lost his shit with him. Proper bollocking.
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At the minute I'd actually prefer Taylor in the team, which says it all really.
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The other day Dean Smith suggested Matt Targett could one day play for England. What I think he meant to say was he will again be playing in England when we play our next PL game. Because if he meant to say what he actually he said he needs to carted off to the fucking nut house. Matt Targett at 14m is a back up LB at best and I'm being mightly generous.
He also said his fitness was appalling when he arrived and even now he has to remind him of the level he needs to be at. It does explain why he’s slow and always blowing out his arse, but just maybe if he listens Deano might be right
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On about 85 minutes, Targett gave the ball back to Norwich really casually, and Jack absolutely lost his shit with him. Proper bollocking.
I saw that Risso, I actually thought it was good leadership from Jack as it raises expectations, live on the field of play. Something I think has been sorely missing this season.
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As I said in the summer transfer thread before we signed him . I watched him a few times for Soton and his positioning was awful and he gave the ball away so much , so I thought I can not see anything to justify signing him for £7 or £8 million , the fact we signed him for the price we did is shocking and who ever sanctioned that needs a boot up the ass.
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He just hit it without giving it much thought. Jack was making the point that he was in space so if he had kept a cool head, we could have kept possession, relieved the pressure and maybe have done something with it on the counter.
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Hause is much better. Remember, he couldn't get in the Southampton team, that's the Southampton team that aren't very good and have spent most of the season in the bottom 3.
Terrible value for money as one day, when we sell him, he'll go for around £2-3m.
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When Mings is fit, move Hause yo left back and have Konsa and Elmo on the right hand side. More of a solid base to build from and all comfortable on the ball.
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When Mings is fit, move Hause yo left back and have Konsa and Elmo on the right hand side. More of a solid base to build from and all comfortable on the ball.
Elmo? Not in a million years for me. Was awful yesterday and never should he be playing ahead of Guilbert
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I didn't think Elmo was that bad. Nothing special, but not a car crash. Guilbert started the season quite well, but was spectacularly awful against Southampton. I guess the trick with players like Guilbert is to spot when they're having a dip in form and get them out of the side, like Smith did yesterday. A bit like Amavi when he was here. Clearly talented, but very inconsistent.
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The other day Dean Smith suggested Matt Targett could one day play for England.
Really?
What sport at?
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I didn't think Elmo was that bad. Nothing special, but not a car crash. Guilbert started the season quite well, but was spectacularly awful against Southampton. I guess the trick with players like Guilbert is to spot when they're having a dip in form and get them out of the side, like Smith did yesterday. A bit like Amavi when he was here. Clearly talented, but very inconsistent.
He was poor against Southampton for sure, but then they all were. Elmohamady gives me no comfort in defence so I guess it comes down to personal preference, but I'd certainly prefer Guilbert as I think there's more to come from him. We know there's nothing more to see from Elmo. Sorry Elmo.
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Hause is much better. Remember, he couldn't get in the Southampton team, that's the Southampton team that aren't very good and have spent most of the season in the bottom 3.
Terrible value for money as one day, when we sell him, he'll go for around £2-3m.
He did well at Fulham so I'd presume plenty of championship clubs would be willing to take a punt on him. But he is miles out of his depth in the top division.
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The other day Dean Smith suggested Matt Targett could one day play for England.
Really?
What sport at?
Beat me to it.
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When Mings is fit, move Hause yo left back and have Konsa and Elmo on the right hand side. More of a solid base to build from and all comfortable on the ball.
Elmo? Not in a million years for me. Was awful yesterday and never should he be playing ahead of Guilbert
Elmo’s positioning yesterday was spot on and so were some of his balls up the line. Whilst we are currently leaking goals like they are going out of fashion he’s a much safer bet to have at right back. I do like Guilbert though but it was right to take him out of the team yesterday.
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Agree Elmo was fine yesterday, reliable and leads by example. Annoying that we have to drop one of our few decent new players to accommodate him. Freddy on the wing?
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When Mings is fit, move Hause yo left back and have Konsa and Elmo on the right hand side. More of a solid base to build from and all comfortable on the ball.
Elmo? Not in a million years for me. Was awful yesterday and never should he be playing ahead of Guilbert
Elmo’s positioning yesterday was spot on and so were some of his balls up the line. Whilst we are currently leaking goals like they are going out of fashion he’s a much safer bet to have at right back. I do like Guilbert though but it was right to take him out of the team yesterday.
I agree entirely. You talk about experience - Elmo is one of the few in our squad who has it. He wasted 2 very good opportunities yesterday with poor crosses but he is always steady as opposed to the erratic Guilbert.
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Targett is in the Irish Times team of the day for yesterday's games!
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Excellent. A few more reviews like that should help us get rid of him.
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When Mings is fit, move Hause yo left back and have Konsa and Elmo on the right hand side. More of a solid base to build from and all comfortable on the ball.
Elmo? Not in a million years for me. Was awful yesterday and never should he be playing ahead of Guilbert
Elmo’s positioning yesterday was spot on
Byram completely lost him for his back poster header that he should of buried.
Elmo is a solid Champuonship level player, I really dislike it when we play him.
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The other day Dean Smith suggested Matt Targett could one day play for England.
Really?
What sport at?
Beat me to it.
Read and weep chaps
But Smith believes there is more to be done if Targett is to fulfil his true potential. “There is potentially an England left-back there but he has to go and push himself,” said the boss.
Full nonsense
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2019/12/20/dean-smith-hard-work-can-put-aston-villas-matt-targett-in-england-frame/
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Was talking about the full backs yesterday, and how they’re getting caught out too far forward.
If they’re going to push on so far up we need to play with a 3-5-2 sort of formation.
You choice from Mings, Chester, Engels, Hause & Konya
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I think he's form has been scratchy, but the absence of Mings next to him hasn't helped.
His panicked pass out yesterday was symptomatic of a player devoid of confidence, like many.
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The other day Dean Smith suggested Matt Targett could one day play for England.
Really?
What sport at?
Beat me to it.
Read and weep chaps
But Smith believes there is more to be done if Targett is to fulfil his true potential. “There is potentially an England left-back there but he has to go and push himself,” said the boss.
Full nonsense
https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2019/12/20/dean-smith-hard-work-can-put-aston-villas-matt-targett-in-england-frame/
You mean a manager is defending one of his players? How absolutely appalling - sack him immediately.
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Defending your players shouldn't mean talking out of your arse.
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Defending your players shouldn't mean talking out of your arse.
I suppose he should start slagging them off becasue that's what somebody on the internet thinks.
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I think he's form has been scratchy, but the absence of Mings next to him hasn't helped.
His panicked pass out yesterday was symptomatic of a player devoid of confidence, like many.
This is why I think a back 3 would help him, and Gilbert.
With a defensive mid in place I suppose you’d be looking at a 3-1-4-2 ish formation.
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Defending your players shouldn't mean talking out of your arse.
I suppose he should start slagging them off becasue that's what somebody on the internet thinks.
Is the alternative to slagging your players off just talking out of your arse? Several stages in between I'd say. Saying Targett is potentially England material is daft because it could be said about any England player and because it's not even clear at the moment whether Targett is a half decent Villa player.
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Defending your players shouldn't mean talking out of your arse.
I suppose he should start slagging them off becasue that's what somebody on the internet thinks.
Is the alternative to slagging your players off just talking out of your arse? Several stages in between I'd say. Saying Targett is potentially England material is daft because it could be said about any England player and because it's not even clear at the moment whether Targett is a half decent Villa player.
I'll bow to your superior experience on the subject of talking out of your arse.
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Dean Smith was given a new four-year deal for getting Villa into the bottom half of the bottom half of the table. I'm not surprised he's rewarded an erratic performer with a glowing reference for a future England call-up.
This is the new Villa - where potential is valued higher than actual end product. See also Moraes, Wesley; Trezeguet, Mahmoud Hassan; etc.
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Dean Smith was given a new four-year deal for getting Villa into the bottom half of the bottom half of the table. I'm not surprised he's rewarded an erratic performer with a glowing reference for a future England call-up.
Yes he has been rewarded with a new contract for getting us in the bottom half of the table in the Premier Legaue. Having taken over a mid table Championship side 12 months ago that nobody, following us getting trashed 3-0 at Wigan, saw promotion as coming any time soon.
This is the new Villa, the 5th best 2nd division side last year having just dipped into the bottom 3 in a very competitive top flight.
Quite the achievement. Yet your post implies we've fallen from grace, rather than done rather well to pick ourselves off the canvass and yesterday secure lire first top flight double in 6 years. Context is key.
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ATL you need to calm down mate.
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ATL you need to calm down mate.
Yeah sorry, I'm out of control - bucket of ice needed for rephrasing what so many others have said about our manager and our left-back...
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Defending your players shouldn't mean talking out of your arse.
I suppose he should start slagging them off becasue that's what somebody on the internet thinks.
Is the alternative to slagging your players off just talking out of your arse? Several stages in between I'd say. Saying Targett is potentially England material is daft because it could be said about any England player and because it's not even clear at the moment whether Targett is a half decent Villa player.
I'll bow to your superior experience on the subject of talking out of your arse.
I have a different view to you and Smith that's all. No need to have a pop at me.
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Defending your players shouldn't mean talking out of your arse.
I suppose he should start slagging them off becasue that's what somebody on the internet thinks.
Is the alternative to slagging your players off just talking out of your arse? Several stages in between I'd say. Saying Targett is potentially England material is daft because it could be said about any England player and because it's not even clear at the moment whether Targett is a half decent Villa player.
I'll bow to your superior experience on the subject of talking out of your arse.
I have a different view to you and Smith that's all. No need to have a pop at me.
But it's perfectly alright for you to say someone's talking out of their arse.
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I don't see anything all that controversial in saying that a guy with 22 England age group caps, many earned under the current england manager, could get senior caps if he works for it. That seems a pretty obvious challenge to him to find his form and put the work in for us.
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But it's perfectly alright for you to say someone's talking out of their arse.
I could point to any number of posts on any thread on any day which express stronger opinions than mine. Why single me out?
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Defending your players shouldn't mean talking out of your arse.
These are the comments “ There is potentially an England left-back there but he has to go and push himself,” said the boss.
“Matt knows that and we have had regular conversations about it. His fitness was not where I wanted it at the start of pre-season. He was made aware of that and he agreed.
“He has worked really hard to get to where he is now but there is still a lot of work left for him to do.”
Targett, who was a member of the Saints academy from the age of eight, has undergone extra gym sessions in order to build up his physical strength.
Smith added: “He is getting stronger. Technically there are no questions. He is a very gifted footballer. Sometimes it is that other little bit of pushing him”
He’s talking about what he “could” achieve not saying he is currently at that position. Perhaps people have responded to the headline rather than the content.
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I haven't got a problem with anyone defending his players, or bigging them up, and some of what Smith says is fair enough. But - in my opinion - the England bit is wildly OTT and, in the context of Targetts recent performances, bound to provoke a few snorts of derision. Just as it has on here.
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Targett gets some grief on here and much of it reasonable. He does get skinned regularly and seems to over-commit leaving the wingers up against him a free run into our box.
However, with the system we play he needs help. If he is expected to bomb forward then anyone else on his side needs to cover for him and this is often lacking. El Ghazi is particularly culpable.
Maybe a 3 centre back system would work better if our full backs are pushing forward to guarantee that cover.
I'm not sure that Targett's failings are by any means solely down to him.
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I'm reserving judgement on him. But he needs to stop so many crosses coming into the box. The amount of times a winger does him on the outside is concerning. Same goes for the other full backs we have - even when the wingers are attempting to cover we look susceptible.
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I haven't got a problem with anyone defending his players, or bigging them up, and some of what Smith says is fair enough. But - in my opinion - the England bit is wildly OTT and, in the context of Targetts recent performances, bound to provoke a few snorts of derision. Just as it has on here.
Didn’t stop Geoff Thomas
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Bought a dud.
He's crap in his main position and he's also a coward.
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Like so many, he's not what you need when battling, scrapping and giving everything is required.
No doubt Taylor is a better defender, yes, he offers nothing at all going forward but we needed much better than Targett.
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Biggest wimp I've seen play LB in all my years going to Villa Park.
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I was relieved when he went off injured.
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Biggest wimp I've seen play LB in all my years going to Villa Park.
He is rather weak.
Doesn't sound too tough just in his interviews not that should be some judgement.
I'm all for footballers rather than destroyers and enforcers but Targett seems to struggle with physicality.
I suggest he builds up his muscle mass
I was thinking less 'muscle mass' (it's probably more fat with him) as I feel he's too slow for a left back who needs to get up and down.
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When Mings returns Hause has got to play at LB.
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Dean Smith was given a new four-year deal for getting Villa into the bottom half of the bottom half of the table. I'm not surprised he's rewarded an erratic performer with a glowing reference for a future England call-up.
Yes he has been rewarded with a new contract for getting us in the bottom half of the table in the Premier Legaue. Having taken over a mid table Championship side 12 months ago that nobody, following us getting trashed 3-0 at Wigan, saw promotion as coming any time soon.
This is the new Villa, the 5th best 2nd division side last year having just dipped into the bottom 3 in a very competitive top flight.
Quite the achievement. Yet your post implies we've fallen from grace, rather than done rather well to pick ourselves off the canvass and yesterday secure lire first top flight double in 6 years. Context is key.
I stand by what I said.
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Biggest wimp I've seen play LB in all my years going to Villa Park.
I despised Stephen Warnock for the same reason but the more Targett plays Warnock appears Stuart Pearce esque in comparison. Targett is a complete charlatan of a defender. I just don't get who possibly could have authorised spending that kind of money on him, about the third of the price of Guilbert.
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As others have said, he’s not one for the fight is he? Reminds me of that kid who pissed himself in American Pie or whatever it was. Wimp.
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I’d try him as a left winger before we write him off.
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Our full back called Nicky was bad enough. It always made him sound like a hairdresser.
He was like Norman Hunter compared to fucking Matt Targett.
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My pal reckons he cried wolf going off at Wolves with a head injury because he was getting such a roasting off Traore.
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He blocked loads of crosses yesterday. He defended well for once.
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Couldn’t tackle a fish supper
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He just looks like a little boy lost to me. Loved it on the tranquil south coast. Remember all his family coming up the day he signed. All very nice and all but he’s a bit of a mummy’s boy and it shows on the pitch. That said I saw enough of him going forward last season to think he has something in a more advance position.
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I’d be much happier to bring House in to play left side of a three. By all means play Targett further forward, as his crossing isn’t bad at all, and he won’t have to tackle those nasty wingers either.
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He has been ok but he stands off attackers far too much for my liking.does have a good cross on him. Definitely a step up from taylor, cissoko.
Think amavi qss alot better than targett though
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I’d be much happier to bring House in to play left side of a three.
Our House, on the left side of a three. Could be a hit.
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I’d be much happier to bring House in to play left side of a three.
Our House, on the left side of a three. Could be a hit.
Clappy thingy.
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I do wonder whether he’s been 100% fit at any point this season; he missed plenty of our early games with a hamstring injury and it seems to keep reoccurring.
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I don’t mind him and think he’s more suited to a 352 system but I wish he got up and threw his body on the line when Watford powered forward and scored. I hope I’m wrong and not being too cynical but I wonder how hurt he was?
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Not as hurt as I am
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I don’t mind him and think he’s more suited to a 352 system but I wish he got up and threw his body on the line when Watford powered forward and scored. I hope I’m wrong and not being too cynical but I wonder how hurt he was?
About as hurt as he was earlier in the season v Wolves I reckon.
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The evidence being...?
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Oh, and Targett's still out.
So, perhaps he wasn't play-acting after all...
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Taylor played like he was injured today. Slowed every ball down, thought really hard and then gave it away. Shite. Hurry back Matty for that wing back slot.
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Taylor played like he was injured today. Slowed every ball down, thought really hard and then gave it away. Shite. Hurry back Matty for that wing back slot.
That's by far Taylor's biggest weakness. When we break forward, the moves break down so many times because Taylor receives the ball, traps it, waits for two seconds, then passes it to whoever is closest to him 10 yards behind.
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I actually think he did really well last night, especially the second half and got into some very dangerous forward positions. His shot set up the equalizer and we've already seen in this new system Freddie score. Not saying at all he's the answer but by being able to push up he puts the opposition more on the back foot.
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One of his better games. In all honesty I didn't think he was that great at the game but watching the highlights he looked half decent. Like many of them, we should see an improvement next season when they will have that bit more experience.
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Did well.
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Best I’ve seen him play last night, seemed really up for it.
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Played quite well and seems to have a good understanding with Jack
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He did play well and he pushed up very high, aided by the system.
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Agree about the system - wing back seems to help with his shortcomings. There is enough defensive cover when he is slow to track back or gets beaten by a winger. And it allows him to get further forward to help with attacks.
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I thought it was his best game for us,
He did really well with a header on goal right at the start of the second half.
But, his technique with the cross shot for our equaliser was excellent.
He could easily have blasted that high, wide and handsome but he got it on ‘target’ and gave the keeper little chance to do anything but palm it away.
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Apart from a lack of pace I think he's a decent player. Trouble is 13 million doesn't go far, and he's about that level. I'd like him to be a bit more dynamic, but with a bit of confidence I think he can be a useful asset.
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Is he an upgrade on Taylor; a definite yes as Taylor offers nothing once he crosses the half-way line.
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To be fair all of our players have been under pressure to get results pretty much from day one this season. The Villa side that struggled after promotion in 1988 looked like a different side to the one that played with such confidence the following season.
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To be fair, most Southampton fans said he had a great left foot but was a bit slow and a bit weak, and not that bright. All of those things are accurate.
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To be fair, most Southampton fans said he had a great left foot but was a bit slow and a bit weak, and not that bright. All of those things are accurate.
appears to be better as a wing back, with three centre backs - it means the left sided centre back gives him a bit more cover. Better going forward than the defensive stuff.
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To be fair, most Southampton fans said he had a great left foot but was a bit slow and a bit weak, and not that bright. All of those things are accurate.
I'd say he seems bright, he links up very well and has developed a good understanding with Grealish; some of their interplay has been really clever.
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I said on here before the Brighton game I was looking forward to his return. Perfectly suited for wing back. Hope he kicks on from here. Very good on the overlap when confident.
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He is also the possessor of a very long pass.
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Great again tonight. What a difference playing him at wing back, him and Jack were telepathic at times. Superb performance from him.
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Targett and Jack tore Leicester apart.
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Exceptional tonight, best left back/wingback performance by a villa player in years in my opinion. Linked really well with Jack and gave us an outlet but also did a good job keeping Perez and Ricardo pretty quiet. The latter was fucking knackered by the end from the run around he got and that tiredness was why he looked glued to the floor for the winner. Also put in a couple of very good crosses.
As with a few other players I think the pressure and sheer amount of games in a short time got to him and he was strugglnig but a couple of decent performances and the confidence from them and he suddenly looks a different player. I'm really pleased for him, I think he's taken a lot of stick (some pretty unfair at times) so it's great to see him get some credit now.
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His best performance for us by a mile and like with pretty much all these youngsters we’ve signed you can see that there is plenty of ability.
It’s so important we stay up this season because apart from the strong financial position to build this squad you also look at these players and know that they’re going to improve with time and persistence.
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He’s too slow in a flat back four against real pace, but the new formation gives him license to get forward.
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It’s a very different player to the one who played against Watford last year. The same can be said about a fair few of them though I suppose. Confidence does wonderful things.
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Repeating myself he was really good tonight but what was he doing when Leicester scored?
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Best game for Matt so far that was. His understanding with Jack is a real asset we should use more of
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Brilliant attacking duo and seem to read each other very well but Targett was at fault for their goal as playing it back he was well positioned but was ball watching and didn't have a clue that player was behind him otherwise by far his best game.
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Great tonight. Him and jack are a great complimentary combination
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He’s improved massively the last few games.
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Aside from benefiting from 3 at the back he does look fitter and sharper. Fair play to him
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Best game since he joined.
He has toughened up and is so much better for it.
The understanding between him jack is superb, and every single ball jack played to him was perfection.
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He was fantastic tonight. Looks like a different player lately.
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The pass from jack for the goal was deceptively brilliant. But also, not many players could be relied on to get hold of a ball at that height as well as targett. They are a great combo
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I’ve been a critic of his and Matt Targett won’t be the best LB ever to play for us, but there’s actually a really decent chance he could make the Euro’s squad simply due to a lack of depth at that position. He’s got some pretty good attacking stats so used in the right system could be a solid back up option to Chilwell.
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He's improved a lot and is a good asset going forward.
Can't see him getting anywhere near though - I think Shaw or Rose would be the back-up.
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Rose has barely played all season and Shaw is so average. You’re probably right but I know Southgate likes Targett so who knows
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Rose has barely played all season and Shaw is so average. You’re probably right but I know Southgate likes Targett so who knows
I know that and you know that. But as things stand, even Jack hasn't had a chance yet over bog-average players from the top 6 so what chance do others have?
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Oh great, another Villa player you've found to castigate.
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Some people need structure around them or they don't function the same. I'm assuming Matt is one of those. I suspect he won't be the only one across all the teams and I also suspect injuries are going to also happen across all the teams as you essentially need pre season training again and it can't be done to the same level as it normally is.
Still football needs to be played so lets force it through and risk lives and careers to finish off a season most people can't be arsed with.
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Some people need structure around them or they don't function the same.
I thought you were going to say Vill I An
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My take on what he says is that he's been following the programme the club have given him but it's worlds apart from being ready for elite level competition. Even training where you have experienced coaches pushing you to get the most out of you is going to be a big step-up to lockdown programming.
It sounds like there's only so many drills you can do on your own with a ball too.
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Matt Targett on sky sports doesn't sound or look he's been that fit over the lock down.
He's started making excuses already.
"You're going to need a good five or six weeks to get into any sort of shape,' he said. '[In the first session on Tuesday] I felt so much heavier running around.
'You do different sorts of runs (in training) which is completely different to running around a park. It's a lot more intense.
'It's very different. We've been sent our individual programmes. It just felt so weird having a ball at your feet.'
This is the same Matt Targett who came to Villa unfit. Has ongoing hamstring issue .
Targett who been injured several times and then sat our extended period after he pulled his hamstring in December
Dean Smith said :
"His fitness was not where I wanted it at the start of pre-season. He was made aware of that and he agreed."
I can imagine he'll be getting injured again when he tries to push himself.
I mean don't know his personal circumstances but fitness wise he seems rather unprofessional and needs monitoring and guiding as well as better strength and conditioning.
He could prevent his injuries with being far more robust and physically fit but it's probably too late now and he's stuck with having issues with his hamstring for his career.
I'm sure Smith and team will take him to task with these comments about being heavy as this is the second time since pre season Matty Targett hasn't been up to playing standard.
Certainly looked rather bloated in face on sky sports news.
My biggest fear was exactly this. That some of the Villa players being lax with their attitude to personal fitness programmes.
Targett clearly has form with this and he'll be one of the first to pull his hamstring when he starts up with any rigor.
Really I recommend hot yoga or pilates and to get greater flexibility.
He clearly has an issue with warm and cool down as well as flexibility so he's gonna be a 14m liability and we'll have to go back to Neil Taylor for the remainder of season
It's really disparing, it really is.
I was going to suggest you are very much a glass half empty man but I suspect you are more of a totally empty glass that is broken man. Please never volunteer to be a Samaritan. ;)
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It’s a bit like home schooling. It’s not quite the same as being in the classroom.
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Can we give it a fucking rest on battering our own players? Just for a little bit while the world is falling to pieces and though much less importantly, we have one foot inside the PL relegation trapdoor.
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It just felt so weird having a ball at your feet.'
That explains a lot.
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In fairness Targett has always been a bit of a whimp.
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Can we give it a fucking rest on battering our own players? Just for a little bit while the world is falling to pieces and though much less importantly, we have one foot inside the PL relegation trapdoor.
Seconded.
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Has to be a first, players being derided after a couple of days training because he looked a little round faced on a Tv interview.
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Well actually Dean Smith said way back when
"His fitness was not where I wanted it at the start of pre-season. He was made aware of that and he agreed."
So there is a lot of substance
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I'm just providing educated insight and foresight that Targett Chas fitness concerns and that he'll be pulling his hamstring
It's likely to happen with the new work load and far more intense training the strain will be a lot and that just fore warning folk he likely to miss some of the run in or not be at 100%
Played much at the top level, Vill I An?
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I'm just providing educated insight and foresight that Targett Chas fitness concerns and that he'll be pulling his hamstring
It's likely to happen with the new work load and far more intense training the strain will be a lot and that just fore warning folk he likely to miss some of the run in or not be at 100%
Played much at the top level, Vill I An?
Educated might mean eg Physiotherapy degree or Sports Psychology etc, not necessarily pro football experience. Right?
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Every player in every team will have lost match fitness and sharpness. How many have really not bothered and totally taken the piss remains to be seen. Personally I would have thought most footballers have fitness equipment in their home and big back gardens and I would imagine most of them have kept themselves pretty fit during the break, even if they just kept fit to relieve the boredom.
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I'd also imagine that the club would be monitoring the work they were doing while at home. I'm sure that alarm bells would have been ringing if X player's daily data wasn't as they expected.
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I saw the Targett thread had been bumped and assumed he had died. I am (somewhat) relieved that isn't the case.
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Can we give it a fucking rest on battering our own players? Just for a little bit while the world is falling to pieces and though much less importantly, we have one foot inside the PL relegation trapdoor.
'Battering' LOL.
And as you quite rightly say, the world is falling to pieces, in which case what's the fucking point getting all mardy because some people are suggesting the players who have got us with one foot in the relegation trapdoor aren't up to much.
Oh and I notice it is generally ok when it's you doing the battering.
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Every player in every team will have lost match fitness and sharpness. How many have really not bothered and totally taken the piss remains to be seen. Personally I would have thought most footballers have fitness equipment in their home and big back gardens and I would imagine most of them have kept themselves pretty fit during the break, even if they just kept fit to relieve the boredom.
Some players live in apartments actually with no gardens
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Being fit and being match fit are two completely different thing. So eight odd weeks away from training with team mates most days and playing competitive games takes it's toll. It does take time to get match fit again as there is only so much fitness training you can do by yourself.
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I'm just providing educated insight and foresight that Targett Chas fitness concerns and that he'll be pulling his hamstring
It's likely to happen with the new work load and far more intense training the strain will be a lot and that just fore warning folk he likely to miss some of the run in or not be at 100%
Played much at the top level, Vill I An?
Educated might mean eg Physiotherapy degree or Sports Psychology etc, not necessarily pro football experience. Right?
An educated guess is a coomon phrase and I suspect this is what Footy is referring to. You don't need to be an expert in a field to make an educated guess, you just look at the facts in front of you and take a view. In this case the facts Footy has worked on are:
He wasn't fit at the start of the season after a summer off
He was shit at the start of the season after a summer off
Deano has said he was unhappy with his fitness at the start of the season after a summer off
He is injury prone
He has just had the equivalent of a summer off
He has gone on record saying he'll probbaly need 5-6 weeks to get fit, which is more than others seem to think reasonable
He looks a bit lardy in the interview.
So I don't think Footy's educated guess is as much of a stretch as others may think.
Whether critisising playesr for something they haven't yet done is fair is of course another thing.
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An educated guess might cover most of what you've mentioned there.
Educated insight (and foresight, no less) suggests personal expertise about the fitness (or lack of) of elite level athletes. Ie not guesswork and not internet bobbins cobbled together from a few reports on Sky Sports News, Pop Bitch, or whatever.
I'm just curious about this expertise.
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An educated guess might cover most of what you've mentioned there.
Educated insight (and foresight, no less) suggests personal expertise about the fitness (or lack of) of elite level athletes. Ie not guesswork and not internet bobbins cobbled together from a few reports on Sky Sports News, Pop Bitch, or whatever.
I'm just curious about this expertise.
It must be pretty obvious to you that English isn't Footy's first language, so maybe give a bit of leeway on phraseology rather than trying to be a smartarse.
And a direct quote from Dean Smith and another from the player himself is hardly internet bobbins from Pop Bitch is it?
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So that's no expertise then, got ya.
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So that's no expertise then, got ya.
More smart arseing.
Footy backed up his view with direct quotes and examples.
I look forward to you never posting again on any subject you don't have expertise in. Please ensure you never put forward any conjecture or opinion unless it is backed up by at least degree level education or personal first class experience or expertise.
Cheers.
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We could go the route of trying to decode this gibbersih as per a Paul Lambert post match interview and say "when he said this, he actually meant this..."
But I pay him enough credit to accept he meant what he said.
It's not the first time we've been blessed with this sort of thing. He was educating us last year about the danger of McGinn missing the back end of last season due to too many yellow cards and was concerned that no one else could see this possibility apart from him- despite most of the match threads saying the exact same thing.
More recently it's about Wesley's patchy form pre injury or our defensive woes that - again - he was somehow ahead of the curve on.
So in isolation, I'd have agreed with your first post. But taken together it's consistent with the earlier approach.
Players being more susceptible to injury to to a high volume of games in a short period? Players being at different levels fitness-wise due to the lockdown? Amazing.
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Every player in every team will have lost match fitness and sharpness. How many have really not bothered and totally taken the piss remains to be seen. Personally I would have thought most footballers have fitness equipment in their home and big back gardens and I would imagine most of them have kept themselves pretty fit during the break, even if they just kept fit to relieve the boredom.
Some players live in apartments actually with no gardens
Are you defending Targett now?
If only Eastie was here he would know the accommodation details of the team along with the Alarm code and how easy it is to place hidden cameras.
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KevinGage - just do what I do. Scroll through any post he makes. It makes for a much better experience
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Yeah scroll on if not interested but let me enlighten you a lot of premier league players and associates read their own player threads on forums. Even more so at this time.
That ever occurred to you? The amount of free time pro footballers have ! And even more so during lock down.
And if it didn't occur to you it's another reason to me being useful round these parts to let people know these things happen.
Thanks for letting me know that. Can you do tax returns?
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Yeah scroll on if not interested but let me enlighten you a lot of premier league players and associates read their own player threads on forums. Even more so at this time.
That ever occurred to you? The amount of free time pro footballers have ! And even more so during lock down.
And if it didn't occur to you it's another reason to me being useful round these parts to let people know these things happen.
Has it ever occured to you that people have the access to do the same if they wish, but probably don't because they're not in the slightest bit fucking interested?
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Can we give it a fucking rest on battering our own players? Just for a little bit while the world is falling to pieces and though much less importantly, we have one foot inside the PL relegation trapdoor.
'Battering' LOL.
And as you quite rightly say, the world is falling to pieces, in which case what's the fucking point getting all mardy because some people are suggesting the players who have got us with one foot in the relegation trapdoor aren't up to much.
Oh and I notice it is generally ok when it's you doing the battering.
You’ve done plenty of that yourself over the years. And then criticized others for the same. I think you’ll find the glass on your house and everyone else’s for that matter on an internet forum for football fans is a little thin.
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So that's no expertise then, got ya.
More smart arseing.
Footy backed up his view with direct quotes and examples.
I look forward to you never posting again on any subject you don't have expertise in. Please ensure you never put forward any conjecture or opinion unless it is backed up by at least degree level education or personal first class experience or expertise.
Cheers.
Oh dear.
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Yeah scroll on if not interested but let me enlighten you a lot of premier league players and associates read their own player threads on forums. Even more so at this time.
That ever occurred to you? The amount of free time pro footballers have ! And even more so during lock down.
And if it didn't occur to you it's another reason to me being useful round these parts to let people know these things happen.
Oh dear dear.
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Yeah scroll on if not interested but let me enlighten you a lot of premier league players and associates read their own player threads on forums. Even more so at this time.
That ever occurred to you? The amount of free time pro footballers have ! And even more so during lock down.
And if it didn't occur to you it's another reason to me being useful round these parts to let people know these things happen.
Oh dear dear.
Everyone loves a self-appointed oracle.
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I’ll argue with anyone about anything
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No you won't.
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Anyway, is Matt Target an athlete or a sugar plum fairy ?
Discuss.
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Matt is sporting a JPA style hairband now.
Doesn’t look overweight at all though, at least in the official pics.
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Anyway, is Matt Target an athlete or a sugar plum fairy ?
Discuss.
Well i'm going with the sugar plum fairy, that wants to be an athlete.
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For the life of us give Targett some protection!
What is disappointing with Dean Smith having watched all the matches again is that he hasn't found a balance for the left hand side defensively and attacking wise.
This season over 400 crosses conceded on left side of our team. Compared to 288 on the left.
Aston Villa are averaging 13 crosses a match to the right sided attack of the opposition.
That is the most in the league.
We are top for conceded chances on left side of the pitch
The only team to have 400+ crosses conceded from either side of the pitch
Left side -Bournemouth are second worst with 396 conceded.
This highlights the imbalance with the amount of crosses coming in on the villa left is concerning. And has been all season.
26 crosses against Chelsea ! Just on that side. Villa gave away 11 on the right.
Targett is being targeted !!
Maybe have Nakamba in to afford him some protection
V Sheffield United had 13 crosses conceded compared to 7 on the right side.
Something will be done Vs Newacstle because Smith and Villa can't allow that to continue
The space and room given on our left side either because Grealish is given too much freedom or /and doesn't cover is affording too many opportunities.
The system and player be it Grealish or el- ghazi seems to continuosly give up chances to the right sided attack of opposition.
Our right side is 13th of 20 for crosses conceded so a lot stronger than our disjoined left side.
Conversely the same side of Targett and Grealish is our strongest for creating chances
And to end with some good news .
Today's opposition Newcastle Utd right side is the worst in the league having conceded the most down that side of the pitch !!
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We monumentally overpaid, as most suggested at the time.
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Certainly needs help/protection over there, not sure if it's all because of the system though. Time and time again I see him getting dragged into the middle and then he's left with too much ground to cover outside. Not convinced at all.
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We monumentally overpaid, as most suggested at the time.
This is the problem when clubs know your're deperate, have a pocket full of cash or both.
Look at the prices we were quoted for Maupay and Webster compared to what they were ultimately sold for. I bet both would have preferred to come to us.
It will be same when we are flush with the Grealish money.
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What is he thinking with that hair don't? He's like Ray Parlour's uglier younger brother.
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What is he thinking with that hair don't? He's like Ray Parlour's uglier younger brother.
Or sister.....
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Anyway, is Matt Target an athlete or a sugar plum fairy ?
Discuss.
certainly not an athlete, so I'll go with b
our left back hall of shame over the past 20 years is hideous and he is as bad as any of them
Simply miles off the required standard in terms of conditioning and frankly, bottle
No defender at this level should require the amount of cover he seems to need
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Not a massive fan from what I've seen of him so far this season but I didn't think he was too bad today actually.
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Vs Newacstle (and everyone else) No surprise the goal conceded cane from our left hand side ! Yet again
And also we scored from that side via a set piece!
All very predictable
Fearing the worst with Doherty and Adama getting field day down the left hand side Saturday morning.
You cannot in any way blame Targett for that goal.
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Vs Newacstle (and everyone else) No surprise the goal conceded cane from our left hand side ! Yet again
And also we scored from that side via a set piece!
All very predictable
Fearing the worst with Doherty and Adama getting field day down the left hand side Saturday morning.
You cannot in any way blame Targett for that goal.
Yes you can, he was shoved off the ball and should have been stronger.
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I'm just providing educated insight and foresight that Targett Chas fitness concerns and that he'll be pulling his hamstring
It's likely to happen with the new work load and far more intense training the strain will be a lot and that just fore warning folk he likely to miss some of the run in or not be at 100%
Like I said
Congrats.
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Won't be missed. How we managed to spend 12m and get a worse left back than Taylor beggars belief.
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Not one for a scrap is our Matthew.
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Not one for a scrap is our Matthew.
Mr Crisp, because he snaps like one!
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I'm not saying that his injury isn't genuine, but nobody seems very surprised when he left the field of play after a few minutes.
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Twice this season he's managed to escape a proper game against Adama. Just feel like this bloke isn't particularly up for the fight.
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I'm not saying that his injury isn't genuine, but nobody seems very surprised when he left the field of play after a few minutes.
Probably saw Traore's first warm up sprint down the touchline!!
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Realistically, how much of the £12m we paid would we get back on him?
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Realistically, how much of the £12m we paid would we get back on him?
Who would want him and his wages. Another shit left back, only this time I fear we'll be stuck with him.
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Realistically, how much of the £12m we paid would we get back on him?
Who would want him and his wages. Another shit left back, only this time I fear we'll be stuck with him.
We jus don't seem to fucking learn do we?
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I think he is barely adequate but not our biggest problem.
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I thought Taylor, and particularly Duggie, did very well against Traore.
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Realistically, how much of the £12m we paid would we get back on him?
Who would want him and his wages. Another shit left back, only this time I fear we'll be stuck with him.
We jus don't seem to fucking learn do we?
Absolutely we don't. If I were Purslow I would have asked Pitarch and Smith, when it was first proposed, "Why do you think it's a good idea to pay £12m for a defender who is not first choice in a struggling team?".
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Left back has been an absolute graveyard for us as a team in the last 10 years, we haven't had a consistently decent one since Bouma. Warnock had one good half season, and Luke Young did OK playing out of position for a bit, but since then, absolute shite with no exceptions. Bennett, Luna, Cissokho, Richardson, Taylor and now this complete plant pot.
(Actually, I supose Amavi looked the part at times, but very obviously didn't want to be here.)
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An unwanted, third choice left back from a side that were tipped to struggle, for £12m, why?
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Left back has been an absolute graveyard for us as a team in the last 10 years, we haven't had a consistently decent one since Bouma. Warnock had one good half season, and Luke Young did OK playing out of position for a bit, but since then, absolute shite with no exceptions. Bennett, Luna, Cissokho, Richardson, Taylor and now this complete plant pot.
(Actually, I supose Amavi looked the part at times, but very obviously didn't want to be here.)
Valencia finished Warnock in that cup final. I genuinely hated watching him in our shirt after that. His confidence in bits and had a touch of the Targetts too in the courage department.
Don't forget Nickey Shorey, I know many have! Amavi showed promise early on but eventually was so poor he lost his place to some of the luminaries mentioned above.
With Targett, it beggars belief that Smith and Suso thought he would fit the bill.
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Ok, so I couldn't help myself, I listened to Talk Sport on the way home from work and they were talking about Targett. Being a hamstring injury waiting to happen especially as Dean Smith played him four times in 11 days, therefore, bringing the injury upon poor Matt. Also, talking about Targett as a potential England International because Adrian Durham doesn't rate Ben Chilwell. At least they weren't talking about Liverpool I suppose.
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I actually think Targett is okay.
I think he's better in a wing back role and suits a 3-5-2 sort of formation.
When you have this type of player you have to have players fill in behind when they are up field. This hasn't happened and it leaves him exposed when we lose the ball.
It was exactly the same with Joe Bennett. It wasn't until Delph started covering behind that he started to get a bit of confidence. He had a great game vrs Chelsea and was pretty good for the last few games.
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I don't mind Targett, he isn't a world beater but he's good enough for a non-relegated Premier League team which puts him in the upper echelons of current Villa players.
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I don't mind Targett, he isn't a world beater but he's good enough for a non-relegated Premier League team which puts him in the upper echelons of current Villa players.
Wasn't good enough to get in Southampton's side and they were aa lower table side when he was there.
In all fairness, his attacking play probably is of that standard, but his defending and his overall commitment to the cause this season have left a lot be desired.
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He's shit and vastly overpriced. Another player who will see out his contract with us whilst contributing the minimum.
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He's shit and vastly overpriced. Another player who will see out his contract with us whilst contributing the minimum.
Eh? He's hardly fucking Ross McCormack.
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He's shit and vastly overpriced. Another player who will see out his contract with us whilst contributing the minimum.
Eh? He's hardly fucking Ross McCormack.
Ross McCormack contributed fuck all. Point still stands, he's nowhere near good enough and no one will take him from us.
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I actually think Targett is okay.
I think he's better in a wing back role and suits a 3-5-2 sort of formation.
When you have this type of player you have to have players fill in behind when they are up field. This hasn't happened and it leaves him exposed when we lose the ball.
It was exactly the same with Joe Bennett. It wasn't until Delph started covering behind that he started to get a bit of confidence. He had a great game vrs Chelsea and was pretty good for the last few games.
Yep.
He's become the scapegoat for the collective clusterfuck that this squad has been over the course of the season.
He's no world-beater, but he ain't the worst we've seen.
And, yes, we overpaid for him!
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Has looked good at times going forward, links well with Jack, but not a good defender.
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If we go down, he will be ok in the Championship. For a Premier Division player though, he needs to improve.
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Out for 3 weeks
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Out for 3 weeks
and then back to square one fitness wise for the last few games.
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Out for 3 weeks
and then back to square one fitness wise for the last few games.
Last few games? Our final match is 26 July, bet he doesn't play again this season.
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Out for 3 weeks
Confirmed? That’s not good news if that is the case.
We do seem to have been one of the least fortunate teams with injuries. Currently missing (arguably) four of our first choice back five, our main striker and have a half fit John McGinn.
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I'm not a huge fan of him at this level but worth remembering he started at left back for Fulham when they beat us in the play off final so he obviously played his part in their mass winning run.
Fulham didn't take up the permanent option (if there was one) and pinched Joe Bryan off us last minute although judging by his prem games he's of a similar standard to Targett.
Last reliable one was Bouma. Took a year to settle in but showed his quality defensively for the following two seasons. Saw a few of those classic euro games and you forget Holland were calling up Bouma for major tournaments before we signed him.
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As much as I , and others , lambasted this chap I have to hold hands up and applaud him both today final day and decent few final games in as much as the fight and effort he showed.
The match v Everton (let's just say glad I was on break from here) I was livid with him and Walcott heading that goal.
Don't care now though so we eh villa followers !!
But today though he was again, like v Arsenal, soild and battle hardy. When needed. And I even remember him winning a few booming headers and being determined.
Immense
Appreciated his interview afterwards v Everton as he seemed genuinely distraught and he actually stepped up.
Matt Targett well played for all the flak I gave so pleased to say well bloody done hanging in there and proving me wrong (Dean Smith phrases.)
Cant always think I'm so foresight so defo holding hands up and applauding him
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He's been better of late, and is decent going forward but a good defender he is not. Gives the ball away cheaply when you'd really rather he didn't, like all match today.
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Agreed, he's one player I'd like to see made a squad player with a better LB coming in this summer. It's SUCH an important position in the modern game. God knows who's available though...
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As much as I , and others , lambasted this chap I have to hold hands up and applaud him both today final day
Thank you for doing that.
I think Targett has had a very good mini-league despite his muscle strain and the Everton ball-watching.
We now need another LB to replace Taylor and put pressure on him.
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M6/M1 Twitter doing its nut that Leicester want him to replace Chilwell.
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So do I.
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So do I.
We need our replacement in situ first before we slam Leicester for £25m
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I think Targett’s decent enough.
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I'd rather keep him. Very good going forward and improved defensively after lockdown in a more solid side. If they want to throw the majority of that 50m our way then that's a different story.
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I like him.
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I like him.
Me too
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He's good going forward and linked up with Grealish really well. I imagine his youtube highlights would be pretty good.
Defensively I don't think he's good enough yet, the opposition seem to be able to cross at will. But there was an improvement towards the end of the season and hopefully that continues. There's absolutely no way I'd consider selling him at the moment. Fullbacks have been one of our hardest positions to fill over the last few years and it would be madness to weaken ourselves there right now.
I'd like an upgrade on Taylor to push him though.
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I think he has a yellow streak in him that pops up when the going gets tough, same as ElGhazi.
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He's not one I was looking to bomb out at the end of the season but if we could turn a reasonable profit I'd bite. Anything in excess of £25 million and it makes sense to do the deal.
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I like him.
Me too
And me. He has been decent over the season and looks to be getting better by the game.
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Bloody awful defender.
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I think he has a yellow streak in him that pops up when the going gets tough, same as ElGhazi.
That game at Wolves early last season was when those question marks first appeared. His injury that day did seem a tad convenient considering the way he was playing. Something, limited and all that he is, you couldn't accuse Taylor of in fairness. He'll battle anyway.
Douglas Luiz had a shocker the same day at Wolves with an utterly gutless performance in midfield, Traore brushing off him for the second goal was the pits. But the penny seemed to drop for him that his fitness and conditioning needed marked improvement during the lockdown. Hopefully Matt Targett has also taken the same hint over the break. If he hasn't, then he will remain a huge liability in our defence.
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I don't particularly dislike him, he's decent with the ball at his feet but its one of the most important positions these days and I dont think he has the strength, speed or stamina to be a tophalf left back.
Id see if Amarvi fancies coming back.
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I like him.
Me too
And me. He has been decent over the season and looks to be getting better by the game.
Me too, he’s improving all the time and his link up play with Jack is very good
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I like him.
Me too
And me. He has been decent over the season and looks to be getting better by the game.
And me as well. Some of his link up play with Jack was ace.
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I like him.
Me too
And me. He has been decent over the season and looks to be getting better by the game.
scored a couple of goals too...
UTV
The Doc
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I like him.
Me too
And me. He has been decent over the season and looks to be getting better by the game.
And me as well. Some of his link up play with Jack was ace.
it’s a yes from me to
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I like him.
Me too
And me. He has been decent over the season and looks to be getting better by the game.
And me as well. Some of his link up play with Jack was ace.
it’s a yes from me to
I like him. We strengthened post lockdown and he looked better too. If he's wanted by Leicester then he can't be as bad as people may think?
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It's a no from me.
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I'd be more than happy if we could get our money back. To his credit he stepped up after lockdown but overall he looked way out of his depth. The only reason to keep him is the thought of having to integrate one more player assuming we're going to bring in at least 3 first teamers.
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We've got more pressing priorities than trying to find a suitable replacement. He'll do for now and if he can keep getting better then there's no rush to sell.
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Keep him, we're already struggling to get people in so the last thing we need is another position to fill unless we're offered something daft like £30m.
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Keep him, we're already struggling to get people in so the last thing we need is another position to fill unless we're offered something daft like £30m.
Although I agree to keep him, but what makes you think we’re struggling to get any one in? We have absolutely no idea what’s happening behind the scenes do we?
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Because we finished 17th, have no forwards of any note, the worst defence in the division, our keeper is out for at least a month in to the season and we have a couple of weeks until kick off yet we've added no one.
I'm almost 100 percent sure this situation isn't by design or our choosing.
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Because we finished 17th, have no forwards of any note, the worst defence in the division, our keeper is out for at least a month in to the season and we have a couple of weeks until kick off yet we've added no one.
I'm almost 100 percent sure this situation isn't by design or our choosing.
But apart from that you are happy? Jesus, I really wonder why people bother to support us.
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I don’t understand why worry about anything that hasn’t happened yet or worry about such negative speculation that we are struggling to make things happen. I don’t get it. I know we’re all different but after surviving last season and adding additions surely gives us more hope, not less.
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I don’t understand why worry about anything that hasn’t happened yet or worry about such negative speculation that we are struggling to make things happen. I don’t get it. I know we’re all different but after surviving last season and adding additions surely gives us more hope, not less.
This is it. Smith has already said that 'wheels are in motion' which obviously implies that they are working on deals but for some, that's not enough.
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I don’t understand why worry about anything that hasn’t happened yet or worry about such negative speculation that we are struggling to make things happen. I don’t get it. I know we’re all different but after surviving last season and adding additions surely gives us more hope, not less.
This is it. Smith has already said that 'wheels are in motion' which obviously implies that they are working on deals but for some, that's not enough.
We have the extra week off too. Although, I would prefer any new players to be in at least a week before the first game, learn from last season when Duggie walks in two days before kick off.
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Because we finished 17th, have no forwards of any note, the worst defence in the division, our keeper is out for at least a month in to the season and we have a couple of weeks until kick off yet we've added no one.
I'm almost 100 percent sure this situation isn't by design or our choosing.
But apart from that you are happy? Jesus, I really wonder why people bother to support us.
Because I have been and always will be in love with the club that I started supporting when I was 6, standing on the Holte End to watch a poor, midweek game against Watford as we slid towards relegation. The same team that I watched trounce Man Utd less than a decade later at Wembley with my old man, one of the happiest days of my life.
It doesn't make me oblivious to the problems we have or are having and I give credit just as fairly when it's due.
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I don’t understand why worry about anything that hasn’t happened yet or worry about such negative speculation that we are struggling to make things happen. I don’t get it. I know we’re all different but after surviving last season and adding additions surely gives us more hope, not less.
I'd have a bit more confidence in them if they hadn't botched the last two transfer windows, especially January. It was obvious that we needed reinforcements, and they brought in Drinkwater who actually made us worse.
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Because we finished 17th, have no forwards of any note, the worst defence in the division, our keeper is out for at least a month in to the season and we have a couple of weeks until kick off yet we've added no one.
I'm almost 100 percent sure this situation isn't by design or our choosing.
But apart from that you are happy? Jesus, I really wonder why people bother to support us.
Because I have been and always will be in love with the club that I started supporting when I was 6, standing on the Holte End to watch a poor, midweek game against Watford as we slid towards relegation. The same team that I watched trounce Man Utd less than a decade later at Wembley with my old man, one of the happiest days of my life.
It doesn't make me oblivious to the problems we have or are having and I give credit just as fairly when it's due.
But what problems are we having? You are just assuming we are having trouble bringing players in with no proof of that whatsoever.
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I don’t understand why worry about anything that hasn’t happened yet or worry about such negative speculation that we are struggling to make things happen. I don’t get it. I know we’re all different but after surviving last season and adding additions surely gives us more hope, not less.
I'd have a bit more confidence in them if they hadn't botched the last two transfer windows, especially January. It was obvious that we needed reinforcements, and they brought in Drinkwater who actually made us worse.
It seems that they recognised that and reacted by potting Pitarch and bringing in Lange.
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I don’t understand why worry about anything that hasn’t happened yet or worry about such negative speculation that we are struggling to make things happen. I don’t get it. I know we’re all different but after surviving last season and adding additions surely gives us more hope, not less.
This is it. Smith has already said that 'wheels are in motion' which obviously implies that they are working on deals but for some, that's not enough.
We have the extra week off too. Although, I would prefer any new players to be in at least a week before the first game, learn from last season when Duggie walks in two days before kick off.
Wasn't that down to his work permit though?
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has Drinkwater definitely gone now never to return?
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I don’t understand why worry about anything that hasn’t happened yet or worry about such negative speculation that we are struggling to make things happen. I don’t get it. I know we’re all different but after surviving last season and adding additions surely gives us more hope, not less.
This is it. Smith has already said that 'wheels are in motion' which obviously implies that they are working on deals but for some, that's not enough.
We have the extra week off too. Although, I would prefer any new players to be in at least a week before the first game, learn from last season when Duggie walks in two days before kick off.
Wasn't that down to his work permit though?
Absolutely Clampy, but it still happened and wasn't the greatest prep is my point.
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I don’t understand why worry about anything that hasn’t happened yet or worry about such negative speculation that we are struggling to make things happen. I don’t get it. I know we’re all different but after surviving last season and adding additions surely gives us more hope, not less.
I'd have a bit more confidence in them if they hadn't botched the last two transfer windows, especially January. It was obvious that we needed reinforcements, and they brought in Drinkwater who actually made us worse.
I guess the bosses thought the same as Pitarch as been sacked. So hopefully we won’t make the same mistakes this season.
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Because we finished 17th, have no forwards of any note, the worst defence in the division, our keeper is out for at least a month in to the season and we have a couple of weeks until kick off yet we've added no one.
I'm almost 100 percent sure this situation isn't by design or our choosing.
But apart from that you are happy? Jesus, I really wonder why people bother to support us.
Because I have been and always will be in love with the club that I started supporting when I was 6, standing on the Holte End to watch a poor, midweek game against Watford as we slid towards relegation. The same team that I watched trounce Man Utd less than a decade later at Wembley with my old man, one of the happiest days of my life.
It doesn't make me oblivious to the problems we have or are having and I give credit just as fairly when it's due.
But what problems are we having? You are just assuming we are having trouble bringing players in with no proof of that whatsoever.
Playing devil's advocate, you could say the lack of signings is at least an indicator that may be the case.
Just saying, like.
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I’ve got no doubts they are struggling to bring players in
that’s just the nature of the beast at the moment
but I’m sure it’s not for the want of trying
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Because we finished 17th, have no forwards of any note, the worst defence in the division, our keeper is out for at least a month in to the season and we have a couple of weeks until kick off yet we've added no one.
I'm almost 100 percent sure this situation isn't by design or our choosing.
But apart from that you are happy? Jesus, I really wonder why people bother to support us.
Because I have been and always will be in love with the club that I started supporting when I was 6, standing on the Holte End to watch a poor, midweek game against Watford as we slid towards relegation. The same team that I watched trounce Man Utd less than a decade later at Wembley with my old man, one of the happiest days of my life.
It doesn't make me oblivious to the problems we have or are having and I give credit just as fairly when it's due.
But what problems are we having? You are just assuming we are having trouble bringing players in with no proof of that whatsoever.
Playing devil's advocate, you could say the lack of signings is at least an indicator that may be the case.
Just saying, like.
Not necessarily. It doesn't really indicate we are having problems at all. Maybe that's just what some fans want to think.
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Bar the odd Benteke one our permanent transfers have generally been a shambles since 2010 under countless managers and owners. Ironically one of the best ones was 2015 but we completely botched the key positions (Richards/Lescott/Gestede) so the other decent ones faded into the same gutless tripe served up by those. Pretty much all of them have done well since and would improve us considerably if we got them back.
Would be lovely to have a 95 transfer campaign again when we improve 3-4 positions in one window. Lots to do when you think how bad our striking options are compared to pretty much every other team.
January was a bit of a warning. Assuming we'd get a decent striker in on the last day and then Borja Baston was plucked from the depths of Suso's contact book.
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I’ve been one of his harshest critics but another player who has been excellent this season. Just looks really steady. And as part of this back four they all look very settled with a top keeper behind them all.
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One of his best performances for us tonight and I'm one of his biggest critics usually. Bit more aggression shown too.
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Well done Matt.
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He was very good against Liverpool as well where defence had to work hard.
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I’ve been one of his harshest critics but another player who has been excellent this season. Just looks really steady. And as part of this back four they all look very settled with a top keeper behind them all.
Agreed - But I'd say his form has clicked into place since the Liverpool game. He was garbage against Sheff Utd and Fulham, but these last two games he's actually got his head down and performed. Thought he put a monumental performance in last night.
Well done Matty for making us eat humble pie - Long may it continue! UTV
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Hopefully the last few games will have stopped the ridculous clamour for Guilbert to be played at left back!
Keep up the good work Matty.
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I'm neither enthused or pissed off with Targett and I like the fact he sometimes links well with Jack but there was a point in the game where he made a tackle, lost the ball then immediately put a block that encapsulated our approach as a team recently. Committed, stoic, determined and with ceaseless effort.
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I'm neither enthused or pissed off with Targett and I like the fact he sometimes links well with Jack but there was a point in the game where he made a tackle, lost the ball then immediately put a block that encapsulated our approach as a team recently. Committed, stoic, determined and with ceaseless effort.
There were a few occasions last night when I had to do a double take to see it was him that had just done that, and I'm not one of his detractors.
I thought he was mustard last night.
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All of the defence played well including Target. I’d take him off free kick duty though. He must be great in training to keep getting the job. Has he made a keeper save one yet?
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All of the defence played well including Target. I’d take him off free kick duty though. He must be great in training to keep getting the job. Has he made a keeper save one yet?
Agreed but when Hourihane doesn’t play we are short of left footers.
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Have been very critical of Targett, but have to admit he is playing well this season. Very happy to be proven wrong.
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Thought he played very well last night. I think when you bring quality in as we have this season there are often players who have struggled previously that raise their games. Seeing that with Trez also.
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He doesn’t tend to get a lot of love, but thought he was excellent again on Sunday. He offers us a hell of a lot going forward, and links so well with Jack and Ross.
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I like him... links up real well on that left side.
UTV
The Doc
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He’s certainly looking better recently and our left side looks great.
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chips in with the rare goal too...
UTV
The Doc
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He was very good and is looking much more the part. You can see what they've been working on in training when he bursts forward.
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A player that is definitely improving, long May it continue.
What I like is that he plays with his head up so when he comes on to the ball he is looking for options.
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Crazy but brilliant bit of play when he was the most advanced of the three with Jack and Ross.
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He’s certainly looking better recently and our left side looks great.
Interesting to see if Lampty does any damage for BHA. the treats have all been down our right over the last three games and I think Cash has coped reasonably well.
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When people talk about players who have improved since lockdown and mention Konsa, Luiz and Trezeguet, I think he's close to be added to that bracket of players.
I'm sure I read an interview with Smith during the summer where he said that he was happy with how Targett was improving and thought he could start being considered as an option at left back for England before the end of the season.
With Taylor's contract up at the end of the season it will be interesting to see what they do next summer.
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As paul_e knows, I am a critic of Matt Target. In fairness to Matt he is improving and has improved things. His attitude is much better. Long may it continue.
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Continuing to improve, he's no world beater but a steady pair of feet so far... keep it up Matt!
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Big defensive improvement this season along with his great partnership with Jack he’s becoming an important part of the team
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Agree WDV. This boy is improving with every game.
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In my opinion we paid over the odds for him last summer. But he’s worth all of it now. He’s a very steady player now and looks really competent.
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I thought one bad pass aside, he had a really good game yesterday. Much, much stronger defensively, but still getting into good positions higher up the pitch alongside Jack.
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I think Matt Targett gets way too much criticism, or praise that's with some caveat.
I like him, I think he's the best left back we've had in a while, and i think he'll get better. Time will tell, but I think he'll be looked on as an absolute bargain in a few years time.
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Seems to have grown a big pair of balls.
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He did well against Traore. Fair play
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Seems to have grown a big pair of balls.
He has clearly benefitted from coaching and strengthening, so long may it continue
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He’s done well over the last few games. Another one getting to grips with the level he is playing at.
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He's a good player, but I think we forget he was still relatively inexperienced for a defender when he joined us - he was almost 24 at the time, but only had 60 first-team appearances, 20-odd of those for Fulham in the championship. And inexperience is a much bigger factor for defenders than elsewhere on the pitch.
The point being, his defending was always likely to improve compared to where it was when he joined, it's whether it improves enough, or fast enough, to make it as a first-choice left-back in the top half of the premier league.
He's not blessed with the blistering pace or physicality you see with some young fullbacks when they emerge, so recovering from mistakes is a bit more difficult for him, but he's definitely making fewer mistakes this season, and still looks as good going forward.
I'm not sure he's the long term answer, and he definitely needs some proper competition for his place, but like a lot of last year's recruits, he's already a much better player than when he joined and long may that improvement continue!
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I thought one bad pass aside, he had a really good game yesterday. Much, much stronger defensively, but still getting into good positions higher up the pitch alongside Jack.
He certainly benefited by having SJM in front of him yesterday. Whether he can cope on his own against tough wingers in the future is still to be decided, he's certainly had it easy this season compared to Cash with teams attacking with tricky wingers down our right. What I liked yesterday was the number of crucial blocks he put in.
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He's doing well, he has a good understanding with Grealish and seems to be getting in the right places at the right times too, which was a previous issue.
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I thought one bad pass aside, he had a really good game yesterday. Much, much stronger defensively, but still getting into good positions higher up the pitch alongside Jack.
He certainly benefited by having SJM in front of him yesterday. Whether he can cope on his own against tough wingers in the future is still to be decided, he's certainly had it easy this season compared to Cash with teams attacking with tricky wingers down our right. What I liked yesterday was the number of crucial blocks he put in.
I think we've got the balance of the left and right sides pretty decent this year. Most teams spend time and manpower trying to contain Jack, which often gives Targett less to do in terms of defending and also more opportunities to join in attacks. On the right, Trez does a lot of the hard yards, which gives Cash the opportunity to get forward a bit. That side needs work and more attacking input from Trez, but it's probably the best it's been in a long time. Targett has certainly moved himself away from the top of the list of players to be upgraded next.
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His overlap ability has really made a difference to Jacks game. His runs cause indecision in the defenders and that instant allows Jack to shimmy past them
He made 2 terrific tackles on Saturday also and where he bottled it and went off last year this year never gave Traore a look in
Well done Matty
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Just shows, yet again, that you have to be patient with players, especially in the situation we were in last season.
When you recruit well, and you have coaches that can genuinely improve players over time, things can turn out well.
That £15m fee isn't looking too bad now, is it?
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He continues to improve, his approach is more conservative As he is choosing his moments to support attacks, his defending is much better and he looks stronger in challenges.
Great to see.
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Just shows, yet again, that you have to be patient with players, especially in the situation we were in last season.
When you recruit well, and you have coaches that can genuinely improve players over time, things can turn out well.
That £15m fee isn't looking too bad now, is it?
It's not just a question of patience, or else Jota and Samatta would still be here.
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I agree he's improved this season. Always thought there was a player in there - he's always been very tidy on the ball - but he looked a bit frightened at times.
Also thought he had a good game on Saturday. During the match, there was a moment when he'd been involved in a tackle, was on the floor and a Wolves player accidentally caught him full-on in the face with his knee. I remember thinking that, had that been last season, he'd have gone off after it. There just seems more about him this year. Stronger, more experienced, more confident.
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His overlap ability has really made a difference to Jacks game. His runs cause indecision in the defenders and that instant allows Jack to shimmy past them
He made 2 terrific tackles on Saturday also and where he bottled it and went off last year this year never gave Traore a look in
Well done Matty
What we also saw on Saturday was McGinn drifting onto the left side, and there were a couple of great interchanges between him, Targett and JG. Having Ramsey in Right MF gave McGinn a little more licence to drift, and I think that really benefitted both Targett and JG.
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Just shows, yet again, that you have to be patient with players, especially in the situation we were in last season.
When you recruit well, and you have coaches that can genuinely improve players over time, things can turn out well.
That £15m fee isn't looking too bad now, is it?
It's not just a question of patience, or else Jota and Samatta would still be here.
It plays a big part though, there were more than a few of us on here saying Targett looked like he was forming a good partnership with Jack and that they would become a good pair down that side but because he wasn't playing well right then we got argued with about how a new left back was a top priority.
There's been a few mentions about how the job of scouts for a club where we are is to spot a player who is coming towards a big jump in performances, of the current squad I'd say Konsa, Targett, Luiz, McGinn and Trez were all signed just before that and Cash, Martinez, Watkins and Mings were signed just after and combined that's why we've seen such a jump in overall performance. What the strategy means though is that patience is important.
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You can be as patient as you like, but if the player hasn't got the basics to be a success, it's never going to happen. Jota wasn't strong or quick enough to be a success in the Premier League, and that was evident from the beginning. Targett was always good enough going forward, and as that's a large part of a modern left back's role the building blocks were there. The same with Konsa, you could see he had all the attributes and just needed experience. For that reason, I don't think Davis will ever make it, as he hasn't got a key part of being a forward, and that's an eye for goal. I don't think you can learn that, so patience probably won't be rewarded with Keinan.
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Sorry Ross but I'm not sure that makes sense. Davis has plenty of good attributes. If Targett can learn defending as a defender, then what couldn't Davis do the same as an attacker? He holds the ball up well, causes problems for defenders and brings others in to the game. It's the lack of goals that's the issue but I'm pretty sure I've read je knocks them in for fun in training so it's more likely confidence issue.
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Just shows, yet again, that you have to be patient with players, especially in the situation we were in last season.
When you recruit well, and you have coaches that can genuinely improve players over time, things can turn out well.
That £15m fee isn't looking too bad now, is it?
It's not just a question of patience, or else Jota and Samatta would still be here.
Not the point you were making but arguably you could say that there was no need to sign Jota and (possibly) Samatta in the first instance considering how many games they played. It’s a fine line but I prefer a squad where each member is only an injury away from being picked. It ensures everyone is involved and drags up youth players.
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I was one of the gang berating Targett last season/start of this season, but credit where credit's due, the lad has stepped up and is probably the most improved player this season.
I think back to his performance earlier this season against Fulham, and thought we were going to get torn a new one against Liverpool with him facing off against Alexander-Arnold. That was the turning point - He's got stronger defensively ever since that Liverpool game, and looks a solid proposition now. Still need another LB (either to improve the first choice spot or back up), but VERY impressed with the improvement he's made. Well done Matty - Long may it continue.
UTV
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Yep, also admit to being pleasantly surprised by Targett's inlroved defending this season. It must have been conditioning, fitness and a bit of confidence. Would still like competition for him when we're in Europe next season.
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Sorry Ross but I'm not sure that makes sense. Davis has plenty of good attributes. If Targett can learn defending as a defender, then what couldn't Davis do the same as an attacker? He holds the ball up well, causes problems for defenders and brings others in to the game. It's the lack of goals that's the issue but I'm pretty sure I've read je knocks them in for fun in training so it's more likely confidence issue.
The main problem with Davis is fitness. He shows a lot of good attributes which means he should at least be a decent squad player, but he seems to consistently be injured unfortunately
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Sorry Ross but I'm not sure that makes sense. Davis has plenty of good attributes. If Targett can learn defending as a defender, then what couldn't Davis do the same as an attacker? He holds the ball up well, causes problems for defenders and brings others in to the game. It's the lack of goals that's the issue but I'm pretty sure I've read je knocks them in for fun in training so it's more likely confidence issue.
I'd bet any money you like that in a year's time, Davis will either have left, or will still be nowhere near the first team, probably having scored zero goals. Not going to happen for him. But anyway, this is the Targett thread so I'll leave that there.
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On 4 yellows so one away from a suspension
Its imperative to bring in an attacking left back as cover and competition
Neil Taylor will be out of contract come end of season so a competitive player for the squad would be decent to have.
Targett played every minute this season fair play to most of t being improved play
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I just don't understand why anyone would bring Jota and Samatta into a discussion on Targett.
Matt was obviously brought in to be a first-team regular; Jota was a squad-filling, bit-part player; Ally was a forced signing to fill a shirt that was completely empty when he arrived, because of injuries.
They are three entirely different types of signings.
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Agreed, Matt was obviously brought in to be a first-team regular, how else can you justify the price? Same goes for Traore.
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Most improved player of the season for me.
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Considering he struggled to qualify as a footballer last season..
He's doing okay but I'd still love an upgrade.
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Considering he struggled to qualify as a footballer last season..
He's doing okay but I'd still love an upgrade.
Need to get Taylor off the books before that happens so one for next summer rather than next month I think.
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Most improved player..at least he's not Taylor? ;)
Yup, there's some squad building to do next year.
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Much improved, but hope we can do better if we continue to progress.
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He’s having a great season. Would love to see another left back come in January though. If Targett gets injured, we’d hugely miss him.
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Did alright again last night, seems to improve every game at the moment.
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He tried to be too clever with two absolutely terrible passes in the first half that went nowhere near their intended recipient, leading to promising moves breaking down, but other than that he was pretty good. He's improved a lot, and isn't a priority for an upgrade in my view. Unless he cuts out the fannying about that leads to chances, that remains Tyrone Mings.
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Bloody brilliant today.
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Absolutely loving Targett this season. Superb
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MOTM for me today.
Most improved player this season.
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Think he and the coaching team deserve recognition for the huge improvement he has shown, pleased for him.
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He has manned up, reading the game much better. Excellent today.
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Brilliant performance from Matt today defended really well.
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He’s having an excellent season!
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10/10 display that today Matty boy, absolutely brilliant defensive display. Nothing got past him today at all, fan-bloody-tastic.
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10/10, didnt put a foot wrong. Other than Liverpool, who have £200m full backs, Who else has a better pair of fullbacks than us?
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I have eaten so much humble pie over this guy I’m close to throwing up. I would have ditched him as a dud in the summer, but boy, was I sooo wrong ? !
Magnificent performance again, seasons most improved player for me. Well done son.
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Absolutely outstanding today. Well done Marty
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Was brilliant today.
Easily our most improved player of last 12 months.
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Paulo Mattdini
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Glad to see it as I thought he was one of our weakest links last season. He's put the effort in as has Anwar and it's to the benefit of the club. They should both be be very proud of their efforts.
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First goal started with him winning a very good header from a crossfield ball. He's played every minute of every league game as part of a defence that's kept 8 clean sheets. With the paucity of outstanding left backs about these days, I don't know about replacing him, we might be beating a few potential suitors away from our door.
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Forget about replacing him. Look for a promising young player who can be an understudy to him while he develops.
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Roberto Targlos.
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Superb performance today
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I was one of his biggest critics on here, couldn't stand watching him for a finish last season and he carried that form into the season opener ....but transformed so far this season . Physically fitter and a lot tougher
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I'd still want to see better quality competition than Taylor for that left back spot. But with Targett's form since the Liverpool game onwards it's not a priority now.
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Lost count of the tackles/blocks/interceptions he made today
Fantastic performance
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Excellent again. Most improved player.
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Couple of things..at least for me..
I always thought he'd got off lightly this season and has never really been tested.
He couldn't defend. Ace riding on Jack's coattails, but anybody can do that.
Today he became a man. That's what I expected from a Villa left back and he had it in buckets. I've got a feeling it wasn't a one-off and he has finally matured to the be the player many thought he already was. He wasn't. But today he was invincible. Loved it. Long may it continue.
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I watched the game again this evening. He blocked everything. It’s not a fluke anymore. He did it to Traore recently also and he’s improved as the season has gone on. Like all players he will have off games but his average performance is so much better than it ever has been. He’s now a very solid PL left back.
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Couple of things..at least for me..
I always thought he'd got off lightly this season and has never really been tested.
He couldn't defend. Ace riding on Jack's coattails, but anybody can do that.
Today he became a man. That's what I expected from a Villa left back and he had it in buckets. I've got a feeling it wasn't a one-off and he has finally matured to the be the player many thought he already was. He wasn't. But today he was invincible. Loved it. Long may it continue.
I can't talk for anyone else but I've defended him for a while because I could see him becoming this player if we were patient with him and worked in training on his defensive positioning. I found it very interesting in commentary today when they mentioned that we split the defensive dills as Mings/Targett and Hause/Cash instead of CBs and FBs. I'd never thought about how they'd done it but I've said a few times that we're defending better since the restart because the full backs haven't looked as isolated as they were this time last season.
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I didn't envision him being this solid defensively - even when up to speed.
I pegged him more as a Steve Staunton-type (ver 1) - a left back not blessed with pace and who could be got at, but provided quality and attacking threat on the ball.
At both Southampton and Fulham he was seen as a more attacking fullback. We might see that again at some point. But with the way we're set up at the moment, he needs to be able to sit in, defend and be switched on for 90 minutes. He's shown he can adapt to the needs of the team. Long may it continue.
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Couple of things..at least for me..
I always thought he'd got off lightly this season and has never really been tested.
He couldn't defend. Ace riding on Jack's coattails, but anybody can do that.
Today he became a man. That's what I expected from a Villa left back and he had it in buckets. I've got a feeling it wasn't a one-off and he has finally matured to the be the player many thought he already was. He wasn't. But today he was invincible. Loved it. Long may it continue.
I can't talk for anyone else but I've defended him for a while because I could see him becoming this player if we were patient with him and worked in training on his defensive positioning. I found it very interesting in commentary today when they mentioned that we split the defensive dills as Mings/Targett and Hause/Cash instead of CBs and FBs. I'd never thought about how they'd done it but I've said a few times that we're defending better since the restart because the full backs haven't looked as isolated as they were this time last season.
I've defended Taylor in the past from the finger pointers who failed to see Saint Mings was to blame on the left. Hause today owned the position but that's nothing to take away from Targett. He was brilliant.
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He was superb yesterday. For me over the 90 mins he was our MOTM, but Watkins in the 2nd half was brilliant
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He’s been bloody brilliant this year.
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He is a rock at the back, becoming a steal at the price we paid.
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Hope his injury isn’t too serious, he was excellent tonight.
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Outstanding, fingers crossed he is back for the weekend.
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Hope he's back for Saturday, don't want Taylor anywhere near the starting 11. Such a liability.
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Yes the drop off to Taylor is massive.
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Targett was one of those who got Covid.
You’d never have known considering how outstanding he was tonight!
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Surely the most improved player in the squad? Just shows the importance of patience before judging a player.
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Was he injured or just tired?
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Hope he's back for Saturday, don't want Taylor anywhere near the starting 11. Such a liability.
To be fair that's exactly the what people were saying about Matt Targett so you never know!
Most improved player award does go to Targett though.
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Was he injured or just tired?
He tweeted that he had tested positive for covid
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Looked like a knock on his leg though the way he was wincing. Really hope he's fit for Saturday. He's been excellent all season. Last night was just block after block and as Risso said, Sterling got nothing out of him and was subbed off.
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Surely the most improved player in the squad? Just shows the importance of patience before judging a player.
Not all players deserve such patience and Targett was defensively very poor last season. That said, he's turned into a bloody good defender, directs the winger to go wide rather than cut in, tackling is a joy to watch and he's very neat with his feet. Basically the opposite of what he was last season. He deserves to be one of the first few names on the teamsheet. Massive respect for his and I imagine the coaches hard work developing his potential. Long may it continue.
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We have two full backs to be proud of. Targett is the best left back since the last good one we had.
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Must admit I'd all but written him off after last season. But he's improved loads and now looks a proper left back.
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We have two full backs to be proud of. Targett is the best left back since the last good one we had.
Which was so far back in the mists of time I can't actually remember who it was!
I can of course, but just think of the shit show we've had there in recent years, Cissokho, Luna etc.
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I will eat my words about Targett . I thought he was a complete waste of money but last night he looked a 30 million pound player .. What an improvement . We have 2 excellent full backs at the club and may it continue.
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We have two full backs to be proud of. Targett is the best left back since the last good one we had.
Which was so far back in the mists of time I can't actually remember who it was!
I can of course, but just think of the shit show we've had there in recent years, Cissokho, Luna etc.
Bouma
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We have two full backs to be proud of. Targett is the best left back since the last good one we had.
Charlie Aitkin?
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Surely the most improved player in the squad? Just shows the importance of patience before judging a player.
What I love about our current squad, is that deciding on the most improved player is a genuine debate. Compared to a year ago, who has improved the most - Targett? Luiz? Konsa? All of them are measurably better.
It makes such a difference to see us buying younger players with potential, who then actually start to develop INTO that potential - rather than the wilderness years where we'd repeatedly buy players at - or just past - their peak and watch their powers wane for the duration of their contracts with us, only to leave for free or pennies.
I am very much enjoying watching this version of Aston Villa develop.
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Even for the decisive goal Taylor was easily brushed-off by Silva. I wonder if Targett would have done better.
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Taylor is a strictly Championship level player. We urgently need an upgrade because he's by far the weakest of the subs we have. If Targett is out for any length of time I'd play either Mings or Hause at left back instead, like we did with Konsa at right back after the restart last year.
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True but in fairness to the chap, no league minutes all season and he faces that baptism of fire! If Targett is out for Saturday I wouldn't be too worried about Taylor against Newcastle (unless they have Saint Max back).
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True but in fairness to the chap, no league minutes all season and he faces that baptism of fire! If Targett is out for Saturday I wouldn't be too worried about Taylor against Newcastle (unless they have Saint Max back).
Taylor worries me against anybody. He was crap against a load of rubbish Championship teams, so even Newcastle will be at him down their right if he plays, especially as even Bruce would realise that that was our weak spot.
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I haven't got any problem with Taylor slotting in either. He's ok defensively but his weakness is he offers nothing going forward. We will need an upgrade eventually though.
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I thought Target was outstanding last night. Given defending used to be the weaker part of his game we now seem to have a very good leftback indeed. Hope he's fit for the Geordies.
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Looked just like fatigue to me rather than him pulling anything unless DS said anything in his interview?
Might be a doubt for Newcastle but should be o.k for games after that.
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I haven't got any problem with Taylor slotting in either. He's ok defensively but his weakness is he offers nothing going forward. We will need an upgrade eventually though.
He isn't OK defensively though. He might be better at defending than he is going forward, but he's still pretty bad at it.
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Looked just like fatigue to me rather than him pulling anything unless DS said anything in his interview?
Might be a doubt for Newcastle but should be o.k for games after that.
He said he'd been positive for Covid19
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He was having a barnstormer before going off. What an improvement in him this season.
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I said on Post match thread
A measure of Targett is that previously i would squirm everytime there was a 50/50 as he seemed to bottle it at times
Now i am shocked if he does not win them all - he really throws himself into everything and when we play the weaker sides and he can attack adds a different dimension to the left side.
Who is the reserve / U23 / Youth left backs? I would look to promote one of them as understudy
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I don't even see the 'ok defensively' bit that so many people comment about Taylor, if he was rock solid and stopped things happening from his side of the pitch I'd be fine with him playing but that's just not what happens. When he plays teams create plenty of chances through his part of the pitch. He's a trier and has a decent attitude but he's just not very good. I'd say he's the weakest player in our 25 man squad by a very long way (Lansbury is about on a par if you count him in).
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I don't even see the 'ok defensively' bit that so many people comment about Taylor, if he was rock solid and stopped things happening from his side of the pitch I'd be fine with him playing but that's just not what happens. When he plays teams create plenty of chances through his part of the pitch. He's a trier and has a decent attitude but he's just not very good. I'd say he's the weakest player in our 25 man squad by a very long way (Lansbury is about on a par if you count him in).
This is exactly my view. With the progress we’ve made this season there should not be room anywhere near our squad for a player of Taylor’s level.
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I don't even see the 'ok defensively' bit that so many people comment about Taylor, if he was rock solid and stopped things happening from his side of the pitch I'd be fine with him playing but that's just not what happens. When he plays teams create plenty of chances through his part of the pitch. He's a trier and has a decent attitude but he's just not very good. I'd say he's the weakest player in our 25 man squad by a very long way (Lansbury is about on a par if you count him in).
Completely agree.
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Taylor is a strictly Championship level player. We urgently need an upgrade because he's by far the weakest of the subs we have. If Targett is out for any length of time I'd play either Mings or Hause at left back instead, like we did with Konsa at right back after the restart last year.
I'd stick Mings there, especially given how good Hause looked at centre half. I reckon he'd enjoy it as well, and would be quite handy.
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I don't even see the 'ok defensively' bit that so many people comment about Taylor, if he was rock solid and stopped things happening from his side of the pitch I'd be fine with him playing but that's just not what happens. When he plays teams create plenty of chances through his part of the pitch. He's a trier and has a decent attitude but he's just not very good. I'd say he's the weakest player in our 25 man squad by a very long way (Lansbury is about on a par if you count him in).
Completely agree.
All about opinions at the end of the day. I don't think he's as bad as some make him out to be.
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I don't even see the 'ok defensively' bit that so many people comment about Taylor, if he was rock solid and stopped things happening from his side of the pitch I'd be fine with him playing but that's just not what happens. When he plays teams create plenty of chances through his part of the pitch. He's a trier and has a decent attitude but he's just not very good. I'd say he's the weakest player in our 25 man squad by a very long way (Lansbury is about on a par if you count him in).
Completely agree.
All about opinions at the end of the day. I don't think he's as bad as some make him out to be.
What is he good at though? and if you could replace 1 player in the squad this window who would you say is a better candidate?
When he signed he was ok, not terrible but just about good enough for the top half of the championship but that's not where we are any more and him and Lansbury are the last remnants from that squad which need to be moved on. We have a couple of other players who are probably out of their depth now we're looking at the top half of the premier league but those 2 are the ones that I can't imagine any other premier league team being interested in.
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I don't even see the 'ok defensively' bit that so many people comment about Taylor, if he was rock solid and stopped things happening from his side of the pitch I'd be fine with him playing but that's just not what happens. When he plays teams create plenty of chances through his part of the pitch. He's a trier and has a decent attitude but he's just not very good. I'd say he's the weakest player in our 25 man squad by a very long way (Lansbury is about on a par if you count him in).
Completely agree.
All about opinions at the end of the day. I don't think he's as bad as some make him out to be.
What is he good at though? and if you could replace 1 player in the squad this window who would you say is a better candidate?
When he signed he was ok, not terrible but just about good enough for the top half of the championship but that's not where we are any more and him and Lansbury are the last remnants from that squad which need to be moved on. We have a couple of other players who are probably out of their depth now we're looking at the top half of the premier league but those 2 are the ones that I can't imagine any other premier league team being interested in.
He'd lost his place to Hutton in the Championship, until Hutton had to play centre half.
He's a good lad and has actually fared better than I thought he would when he's had to play at this level, but I'd agree that he's the weakest player in the 25.
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I don't even see the 'ok defensively' bit that so many people comment about Taylor, if he was rock solid and stopped things happening from his side of the pitch I'd be fine with him playing but that's just not what happens. When he plays teams create plenty of chances through his part of the pitch. He's a trier and has a decent attitude but he's just not very good. I'd say he's the weakest player in our 25 man squad by a very long way (Lansbury is about on a par if you count him in).
Completely agree.
All about opinions at the end of the day. I don't think he's as bad as some make him out to be.
What is he good at though? and if you could replace 1 player in the squad this window who would you say is a better candidate?
When he signed he was ok, not terrible but just about good enough for the top half of the championship but that's not where we are any more and him and Lansbury are the last remnants from that squad which need to be moved on. We have a couple of other players who are probably out of their depth now we're looking at the top half of the premier league but those 2 are the ones that I can't imagine any other premier league team being interested in.
Well, I've already said that we need an upgrade on him but seeing as we haven't and if Targett is out on Saturday, I've got no problem with him coming in.
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Surely the most improved player in the squad? Just shows the importance of patience before judging a player.
What I love about our current squad, is that deciding on the most improved player is a genuine debate. Compared to a year ago, who has improved the most - Targett? Luiz? Konsa? All of them are measurably better.
It makes such a difference to see us buying younger players with potential, who then actually start to develop INTO that potential - rather than the wilderness years where we'd repeatedly buy players at - or just past - their peak and watch their powers wane for the duration of their contracts with us, only to leave for free or pennies.
I am very much enjoying watching this version of Aston Villa develop.
Agree with that, the transformation of Targett has been remarkable. Credit to Dean Smith and the coaches, looks like they're doing a great job.
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Taylor is a strictly Championship level player. We urgently need an upgrade because he's by far the weakest of the subs we have. If Targett is out for any length of time I'd play either Mings or Hause at left back instead, like we did with Konsa at right back after the restart last year.
I'd stick Mings there, especially given how good Hause looked at centre half. I reckon he'd enjoy it as well, and would be quite handy.
Not a bad shout.
When does Taylor's contract expire?
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Target was my MOM until he went off last night.... he was awesome!!
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Taylor is a strictly Championship level player. We urgently need an upgrade because he's by far the weakest of the subs we have. If Targett is out for any length of time I'd play either Mings or Hause at left back instead, like we did with Konsa at right back after the restart last year.
I'd stick Mings there, especially given how good Hause looked at centre half. I reckon he'd enjoy it as well, and would be quite handy.
Not a bad shout.
When does Taylor's contract expire?
At the end of the season I think.
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Bloody brilliant again. He’s been tremendous this season - an assist and an excellent defensive display.
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I used to wince when he was up against any pacy, tricky wide playesr ie the likes of Salah, Adama Traore and Sterling etc. This season, they've all been in his pocket along with Matt's car keys, some lint and half a packet of chewing gum.
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There were at least 3 or 4 moments when I shouted well done, brilliant, great etc as he intervened or played a good ball and to think he was stupid scary not so long ago. Our and Premier League's most improved player this season.
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Our most improved player this season and probably not far off in the league in general
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I agree he's the most improved player in our squad even though I liked him last season, he has taken his game too the next level.
Its just dawned on me that we could realistically keep this settled back line together for a good 6/7 years if we choose too.
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I agree he's the most improved player in our squad even though I liked him last season, he has taken his game too the next level.
Its just dawned on me that we could realistically keep this settled back line together for a good 6/7 years if we choose too.
And more, playing till they're 40 like the Milan lads.
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How good is Matt Targett at the moment! I have complete confidence in him where headers and tackles are concerned and he seems to have developed extra pace to his game. That's without mentioning his attacking strengths. Watching him last night I wondered whether Soton regretted selling him for what appears to be a bargain price now. Keep up the good work Matt!7
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He's not the player they sold though. Our coaching staff and him being a regular has really allowed him to develop. Credit to the recruitment and coaching staff for seeing something in him that we didn't. I don't know anyone who didn't think we had overpaid for him at £17m. A lot of our players kicked on after lockdown but he's really kicked on since the start of the season. He's become a fantastic player and deserves to be in the conversation for an England call-up, along with Konsa.
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Top lad, really came on. Part of a posse of ours that have come on leaps and bounds with additional top flight experience.
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He'll be in the England squad soon. Cash is going to struggle simply for the level of competition. Think there's just Chilwell on the left?
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Saka too. Shaw maybe. Targett and Saka are certainly better than playing the right footed Trippier there.
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Cash needs crossing practice, too many poor ones.
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Our most improved player this season and probably not far off in the league in general
I doubt there's a player in the PL that has improved so much in a season as Targett. He looked the biggest waste of money last season, a defender that couldn't defend. This season defending is his greatest asset, so focused and rarely beat or out of position. That has come at the expense of his attacking game where he's not getting forward as must as he used to but he still manages to get up there when the opportunity arises. Big difference is, now he can work both effectively.
Like Cash, he needs to work on his crossing. Too often he just just pumps it in the box without looking to see who is available. Do that and we'll have the best left back in the country. His ball to Jack in the lead up to the goal was poetry in motion, so perfectly measured Jack never had to break stride, just hit it first time. As fluid as it gets.
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Our most improved player this season and probably not far off in the league in general
I doubt there's a player in the PL that has improved so much in a season as Targett. He looked the biggest waste of money last season, a defender that couldn't defend. This season defending is his greatest asset, so focused and rarely beat or out of position. That has come at the expense of his attacking game where he's not getting forward as must as he used to but he still manages to get up there when the opportunity arises. Big difference is, now he can work both effectively.
Like Cash, he needs to work on his crossing. Too often he just just pumps it in the box without looking to see who is available. Do that and we'll have the best left back in the country. His ball to Jack in the lead up to the goal was poetry in motion, so perfectly measured Jack never had to break stride, just hit it first time. As fluid as it gets.
His two recent assists against Newcastle and Burnley suggest he's doing ok.
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You're a generous man, hipkiss. Agree on the Ollie goal against Burnley - slide rule cross. Not sure he gets an assist for Newcastle, Schar set Ollie up perfectly for the header.
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Just looking at his stats and they have him on 1 assist. To take the Newcastle assist off him is harsh, but to take the Arsenal assist off him because it was an own goal is ridiculous.
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/matt-targett/leistungsdaten/spieler/250478
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His improvment defensively is incredible.
I think attacking wise he really benefits from Jack, but he works really well around him marking darting runs and Jack has the ability to find him. His crossing when he drives into the box is good, but his longer range crossing still needs work.
It's the first time in a long time I've been happy and confident in both our fullbacks, although I'm concerned teams are starting to tarhet Cash.
As for England, Trent is head and shoulders abouth Cash. Targett may have a chance, particulalry if Chilwell starts struggling for game time.
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His improvment defensively is incredible.
I think attacking wise he really benefits from Jack, but he works really well around him marking darting runs and Jack has the ability to find him. His crossing when he drives into the box is good, but his longer range crossing still needs work.
It's the first time in a long time I've been happy and confident in both our fullbacks, although I'm concerned teams are starting to tarhet Cash.
As for England, Trent is head and shoulders abouth Cash. Targett may have a chance, particulalry if Chilwell starts struggling for game time.
There's also Reece James, Wan Bissaka, Trippier and Kyle Walker to still get past at right back. Targett has a much better chance as Saka is a forward for me.
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Matt Targett, from Villa fans’ punching bag to ‘f***ing brilliant’
There’s a crunch time in every player’s career, a period when they sink or swim, when they kick on and achieve their full potential, or peak and then spend the rest of their playing days wondering where it went wrong thereafter.
For Matt Targett, that make-or-break moment was during the 2020 lockdown. As part of the worst defence, statistically at least, in the Premier League, the Aston Villa left-back was often labelled the weakest link.
The perception at times was that he was fragile, both physically and mentally, as he drifted in and out of the team during the first half of 2019-20. Supporters poked fun at him on social media when had to be withdrawn in both games against Wolverhampton Wanderers through injury; the threat of jet-heeled Adama Traore supposedly too much for the full-back.
But football fan “banter” often goes too far. The individual criticism of Targett was harsh and unjustified. Players see such vitriol and have to rise above it, but when it comes from their own fanbase, it tends to cuts deep.
So to see the 25-year-old now at the other end — from the turnaround during Project Restart to this season’s transformation which reached new heights against his old club Southampton at the weekend — is not only pleasing, but a testament to his character.
If Targett was as soft as some suggested, he wouldn’t have been able to return as a stronger and more rounded individual who has become a big part of this battle-hardened Villa side.
Look at how he frustrated the life out of his old side on Saturday night by showing an unrelenting desire to stop them in their tracks, or how his perfectly-weighted pass allowed Jack Grealish to set up Ross Barkley for the match-winning goal.
What also went unnoticed last season was that when Targett was forced to watch from the sidelines, Villa’s results and performances were actually worse.
They picked up fewer points (an average of 0.7 per game compared to 1.0 when he did play) and also conceded more goals (2.1 per game compared to 1.6 when he played).
There was a similar trend at promotion-winning Fulham in 2017-2018. Before he arrived midway through the season on loan, Fulham’s win percentage stood at just 43 per cent, yet it increased to 72 per cent in games that he appeared in.
Still, to say that he didn’t need to improve on a rocky start to his time at Villa following a £14 million move from Southampton would be missing the point.
His side struggled to keep out goals before the first lockdown and Targett had to shoulder his share of the blame. Picked apart way too easily and vulnerable every time the opposition attacked, Villa were error-prone and porous. There was a realisation that things needed to change to avoid relegation.
Head coach Dean Smith set up video sessions for the group to review and critically analyse their shortcomings back in April and May 2020. Each player vowed to improve their own individual performance and take on board a new way of working. Targett spent time building up his body to become more durable. He’s noticeably tougher and more resilient. Crucially, he now also believes that he’s a valuable asset too.
Touching on his personal challenge in an interview with Villa TV recently, he said: “Last season, I don’t think I was consistent enough but this season I think I’ve grown in each game.”
There was also the mention of Adama, who he shut down to such effect in this season’s corresponding fixture that the winger lost his place in the starting XI in the matches thereafter.
“I love those challenges,” Targett added. “I just want to prove to everyone that I can handle players like that and put on a good performance.”
Where he is now, almost a year on from a time where his name was dragged through the mud among some sections of supporters, shows that the hard yards have paid off. Having started every league game, he deserves a share of the credit now that Villa have kept 10 clean sheets from 19 games, a huge improvement on last season.
The game on Saturday left many of those close to him with mixed emotions. Family members and friends follow Southampton, the club he was a part of from the age of eight. His father is a particularly big follower, but of course he supports his son over his club. Targett sure knew how to pick a game to produce one of his most resolute displays of the season.
Since moving to Villa, he has embraced the Birmingham life. Moving into a property close to the club’s training ground with his long-term girlfriend, he’s often shunned the opportunities to return home when they were presented, instead focusing on settling into the new surroundings.
Smith likes what he’s seeing from Targett now. While it was Jesus Garcia Pitarch, Villa’s former sporting director, who pushed hard to sign the defender, Smith has helped iron out some of the creases in his game.
“We as coaches can take great pride when looking at Matt Targett and the way he is playing,” the manager said. “The robustness he has got in his game and the strength. He’s more powerful now, he’s quicker. He’ll be the first to admit that he’s mentally stronger. He pushes himself a lot harder than he did when he first came into the club. I think we’ve got a very good footballer on our hands now.”
There’s a blossoming relationship with Grealish down the left-hand side that often throws up magic. It’s the way he has become so tough to break down that has made this season such a success, though. James Ward-Prowse, Theo Walcott, Nathan Redmond and Moussa Djenepo all failed to get the better of the left-back, the latter so vexed by the end that he started jumping and flapping his arms in rage.
To think, his wholehearted performance was also produced while walking a suspension tightrope. One more booking would have resulted in a one-game suspension at a time when he would be sorely missed. Fortunately, the threshold for a ban now moves up to 10 bookings so, injury-permitting, Targett will continue to feature heavily in the weeks ahead.
Maybe the most telling difference is the reaction from those alongside him on the pitch. The words from all angles are of encouragement rather than direction.
In one passage of play at St Mary’s, Targett first refused to let Walcott past, then raced up the other end to put in a teasing delivery like the one that set up Ollie Watkins for the opener at Burnley last week. “Tigs, that was fucking brilliant,” roared Tyrone Mings in response.
It’s clear that he’s a valued member of this side now and a big part of the way Villa want to play in the future. No doubt the club will look to renegotiate his contract in the summer as he enters into the final two years of his current deal. Back-up left-back Neil Taylor is coming to the end of his deal and there are no suggestions that he will be offered an extension at this stage.
The full-back areas will need to be addressed in the months ahead as on the right side of defence, Ahmed Elmohamady is also out of contract in June and Frederic Guilbert is heading back to France with Strasbourg on loan this month.
For now, though, Villa have got a good thing going on at the back and Targett is a big part of it.
Source - https://theathletic.com/2356048/2021/02/01/matt-targett-from-villa-fans-punching-bag-to-fing-brilliant/?source=dailyemail
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Well earned praise indeed. He has been brilliant, he pops up all over the place and is as good a left back as I've seen in the Premier Division this season.
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I think his massive improvement has also helped Jack no end this season. You rarely see Jack getting back to pick up the ball in our own half these days, because he just doesn't have to.
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The quality and the confidence he had for the ball he played to Jack for the goal at the weekend is indicative of the form he is showing now.
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He’s been exceptional - a complete left back.
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He's improved and must take a lot of credit for that.
I also think having a forward that can stretch defences and be a threat in behind has helped him massively too.
I'm sure teams defended higher up the pitch against us last season, because we had very little pace in the side and couldn't keep hold of the ball.
E.g, against West Ham last season our front three was El Ghazi Wesley and Jota.
With a midfield three of McGinn Grealish and Nakamba.
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This made me chuckle
https://twitter.com/stanstaunton/status/1366156743865204742?s=21
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He's up there a tiny bit after Jack and Martinez as one of our three best players.
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He’s been incredible. I actually always liked him as an attacking outlet and his link up play with Jack has always been great. I thought he was a bit unfairly criticised at times but I did think he was a bit lightweight with his defensive duties. This season though he’s as hard as nails, his reading of the game is superb and some of his last minute tackles and interceptions have stopped any attack going past him.
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He's up there a tiny bit after Jack and Martinez as one of our three best players.
I agree. He's so much more solid than he was last season. Southgate could do a lot worse..........
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He's a much better defender but his attacking play and particularly, crosses, are shocking. Forget any talk of England until he starts getting that right too.
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He had one tonight. Woeful passing and crossing and thought he should've done better for the goal. Proper 2019 level.
Had a good season so hopefully a one off.
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That's the first bad game he's had, and I can't think of many others in the first team who that applies to.
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He had a bit of a nightmare for sure, as did most of them out there. Passing was woefully bad and the movement off the ball was non existent.
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He didn't have any defending to do but my word, he was abysmal with his delivery tonight.
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Good players have off nights. Even Messi misses penalties. Targett has been superb all season but he needs to work on his crossing this week. Very unlike him.
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Was quite obvious tonight that his link-up with Jack is what gives him the time and space to put good crosses in. He didn't have that link-up tonight, which meant most of his possession in the final third was pretty static and with a defender in front of him, and his crossing was well below his standards as a result. He's much better on the run, going into space created by Jack.
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I don't think he's offered as much going forward this season in general. Can't think of any tasty crosses and with Jack in front of him, he seems to have taken a bit more of a back seat this season. Just seems to have done more short passing interplays like what he did with Jack and Barkley against Arsenal.
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Was quite obvious tonight that his link-up with Jack is what gives him the time and space to put good crosses in. He didn't have that link-up tonight, which meant most of his possession in the final third was pretty static and with a defender in front of him, and his crossing was well below his standards as a result. He's much better on the run, going into space created by Jack.
Agree with this. He looks a lot better going forward when his play links with Jack.
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Well done Matt. New contract. Very well deserved.
https://twitter.com/avfcofficial/status/1387814070020104193?s=21
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Extended deal until 2025.
Well done Matt!
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Fully-deserved. The odd-looking bugger has worked harder than anyone in the first-team squad since "Project Restart". He grew courage, and now plays like a lion. Fair play.
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well done . I admit I thought it was poor when we first got it and a waste of money but must say hes so bloody improved , cracking left back.
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Fully-deserved. The odd-looking bugger has worked harder than anyone in the first-team squad since "Project Restart". He grew courage, and now plays like a lion. Fair play.
I don’t think it was courage because that suggests he was a coward which would be very unfair. I think he’s grown in confidence and belief in his own ability. I think along with the credit he deserves much should go to Mings who is on his side of the defence along with the coaching staff. Mings, yes makes the odd mistake but he is a really good leader and communicator and has no doubt helped Matt get better.
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Fully deserved, well done Matt!
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Fully-deserved. The odd-looking bugger has worked harder than anyone in the first-team squad since "Project Restart". He grew courage, and now plays like a lion. Fair play.
Must be a left-back thing. Like Staunton not the most handsome chap but a bloody good (and much improved) player. Really glad for him as he often got pelters on here last season.
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Fully-deserved. The odd-looking bugger has worked harder than anyone in the first-team squad since "Project Restart". He grew courage, and now plays like a lion. Fair play.
Must be a left-back thing. Like Staunton not the most handsome chap but a bloody good (and much improved) player. Really glad for him as he often got pelters on here last season.
He has put in a lot of hard work and endeavour since he joined. He didn’t let the detractors and “boo boys” put him off. Well done Matt, fully deserved
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Last season he was never as bad as some would have you believe. By default some appear to have a problem with all left backs.
Well earned new deal. An excellent season. I can't recall he having a bad game or anyone giving him a hard time. My choice for player of the season.
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Last season he was never as bad as some would have you believe. By default some appear to have a problem with all left backs.
Well earned new deal. An excellent season. I can't recall he having a bad game or anyone giving him a hard time. My choice for player of the season.
As I said a few times last season the whole setup of the defence was wrong and Guilbert and Targett were the biggest victims of it because they were left 2-on-1 all the time. There were plenty of comments on here about teams targetting our fullbacks but the reason for that wasn't because they were poor as was suggesting, it was because it was very easy to isolate and play around them.
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Great stuff. He’s been excellent this season.
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He did look too casual at the start of this season (particularly Fulham away) but from the Liverpool game onwards he's grown in stature.
The way he reads where the ball will drop or what the opposition winger will try to do is almost McGrath-like at times.
New deal is well deserved.
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We've rewarded all of our good performers and tied down the players who have done well on long-term deals. It's fabulous news.
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Fully-deserved. The odd-looking bugger has worked harder than anyone in the first-team squad since "Project Restart". He grew courage, and now plays like a lion. Fair play.
I don’t think it was courage because that suggests he was a coward which would be very unfair. I think he’s grown in confidence and belief in his own ability. I think along with the credit he deserves much should go to Mings who is on his side of the defence along with the coaching staff. Mings, yes makes the odd mistake but he is a really good leader and communicator and has no doubt helped Matt get better.
Agreed on the Mings encouragement but I do think he was bullied by opponents at times last season. Traore targeted him at Wolves, he got subbed early after being given the run-around and there were other games where he came across as physically weak. This season I'm confident he'll win his 50-50s and that he can shrug challenges off which wasn't the case last year.
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We've rewarded all of our good performers and tied down the players who have done well on long-term deals. It's fabulous news.
I'd still like to see Grealish and Martinez given new deals that will make them unbuyable. Delighted for Targett.
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He's been excellent this season, he really hasn''t put a foot wrong. It would nice to see him and Cash weigh in with a couple of goals now and then but that's not a big problem really.
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Good deal for Matt and the club - reading the comments on his performances last season (overweight/slow) etc.. I am surprised that most on the forum want him to stay?
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Good deal for Matt and the club - reading the comments on his performances last season (overweight/slow) etc.. I am surprised that most on the forum want him to stay?
well maybe because he wasn't as good last season...
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Good news for Matt and Villa, we will have a fairly solid and stable defence going into next season. I think Matt Targett has been very consistent and reliable this season and credit to him and the coaching staff for the improvement.
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Transformed this season, fair play to him. He was arguably our weakest link last season.
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It's great news and well deserved. One of our most improved players who shines in most games. I don't think his improvement is just down to a change in the way we play, he is notably tougher, stronger and braver in his defending. His blocks are outstanding and he's ready to put his body on the line for the team - playing alongside Mings and seeing his heart week in week out must have rubbed off on him.
Last season I thought we should probably look for a new right back. Now I feel we have one of the better right backs in the league and hopefully he'll be pushing for an England call up in due course. Great stuff.
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We've rewarded all of our good performers and tied down the players who have done well on long-term deals. It's fabulous news.
I'd still like to see Grealish and Martinez given new deals that will make them unbuyable. Delighted for Targett.
They both got new long-term deals less than a year ago.
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Matt deserves his new contract he's been immense this season.
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Transformed this season, fair play to him. He was arguably our weakest link last season.
He fully deserves a new contract after what I can only describe as the best improvement from one season to the next I can recall from any Villa player. Last season his defensive skills were shocking, this season I can't think of a better defensive left back in the country.
Target for next season should be to add the attacking skills he showed last season to his game. This season I imagine under instruction he's been told to hang back more and keep us more solid in defence. It's worked. If he can do that we'll have the best left back in the country.
Well done, Matt.
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We've rewarded all of our good performers and tied down the players who have done well on long-term deals. It's fabulous news.
I'd still like to see Grealish and Martinez given new deals that will make them unbuyable. Delighted for Targett.
They both got new long-term deals less than a year ago.
I'd still like them to be on longer, and more lucrative ones. I was just about to write, 'but then, I don't run a business', but I do. I would also like to see myself on a longer and more lucrative contract. Coming off the bench to hand them drinks would be ideal. The drinks pivot.
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Great news fully deserved has improved tremendously over the last 12 months, particularly defensively.
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Sexual, Jack is already on crazy money. I don't think chucking more at him will make a difference. He wants to see top players join so he can win trophies here.
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Targett has been much improved this season.anf hopefully that will continue into the next one, but definitely think we need to bring some serious competition in for him. Rico Henry from Brentford would be a good signing for that particular role.
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Sexual, Jack is already on crazy money. I don't think chucking more at him will make a difference. He wants to see top players join so he can win trophies here.
I don't really care what he's getting paid. I basically want to enslave him with several hundred thousand pounds per week, even though nobody is paid by the week anymore.
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I do like the way our club do this as it tells the rest of the glory hunting wankers our players are not for sale
Jack
Emi
Konsa
Targett
McGinn (albeit i think he has hot his limit at this level)
all signed up long term
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Sexual, Jack is already on crazy money. I don't think chucking more at him will make a difference. He wants to see top players join so he can win trophies here.
I don't really care what he's getting paid. I basically want to enslave him with several hundred thousand pounds per week, even though nobody is paid by the week anymore.
Get him a role in the next Call of Duty game. Then he might talk (via his lovely agent, Jonathan Barnett).
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Sexual, Jack is already on crazy money. I don't think chucking more at him will make a difference. He wants to see top players join so he can win trophies here.
I don't really care what he's getting paid. I basically want to enslave him with several hundred thousand pounds per week, even though nobody is paid by the week anymore.
There's temps where I work that are paid by the week - fuck knows how they budget, I'd be a disaster.
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Really great video interview with Matt on Pravda - honest and almost totally void of cliché.
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Well deserved new deal for Matt. I Think he’s been great this season, along with Cash on the other side. I can remember Southampton fans scoffing at the fact we had payed over the odds for him. Looks like great business now.
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Well deserved new deal for Matt. I Think he’s been great this season, along with Cash on the other side. I can remember Southampton fans scoffing at the fact we had payed over the odds for him. Looks like great business now.
Well said. I was a massive critic of Targett's last season, but he's been great this year, as has Cash-first year in the Premier League, and he's done really well. A lovely right foot, never gives up, and is a handsome bugger to boot!
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Another one who is delighted to eat a large slice of humble pie. Thought he would be our weak link this year, but he's been anything but. Would be perfectly happy to see him start for the foreseeable, developing a youngster along the way.
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Targett is great now. Really strong defensively and technically very good, which means he adds a dimension going forward.
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You know that feeling when a team are attacking right side or running at our defence and you just sit back and think, 'no worries, Konsa will take care of him', I now have the same feeling on the left side with Targett. 'Gareth Bale? No worries, Targett will take care of him'.
Today I also thought he looked to get forward more, something he's held back/been held back most of this season. He's turning out to be worth every penny and more we paid for him, something 12 months ago I'd never, ever have said. We bought a boy and have turned him into a man. I'm delighted for him and more importantly us.
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If this was FIFA ratings Matt Targett is 78 without Jack and 85 with Jack. Jack is 95 always
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He's the best left back we've had since God was a lad. Not that we've been blessed with many who are even remotely decent in recent years, but still, it makes a very nice change not to have a complete duffer there. He's been our most consistent player this year, I'm struggling to remember a bad game or a mistake he's made to be honest.
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He's the best left back we've had since God was a lad. Not that we've been blessed with many who are even remotely decent in recent years, but still, it makes a very nice change not to have a complete duffer there. He's been our most consistent player this year, I'm struggling to remember a bad game or a mistake he's made to be honest.
He was a bit ropey in the 3-0 win at Fulham if I remember, which was a good time to have an off day.
He gets a 9/10 for the season for me, he's been outstanding, even through the barren spell his form didn't drop.
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The amount of crosses he blocks stands out for me.
Mr consistent this season and now makes his transfer fee look massively good value for money.
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He has developed into a very good left back, good with and without the ball, his reading of the game enables him to make key interceptions.
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There were a few occasions last night where Son tried to get past and just couldn't. Tried one way then the other and Targett just stood his ground. Brilliant to watch.
He's a good example of a player with potential being given time and a bit of coaching and coming really good.
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He's the best left back we've had since God was a lad. Not that we've been blessed with many who are even remotely decent in recent years, but still, it makes a very nice change not to have a complete duffer there. He's been our most consistent player this year, I'm struggling to remember a bad game or a mistake he's made to be honest.
He was a bit ropey in the 3-0 win at Fulham if I remember, which was a good time to have an off day.
He gets a 9/10 for the season for me, he's been outstanding, even through the barren spell his form didn't drop.
Blimey you're dredging up the past there, are you my wife?!
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He's the best left back we've had since God was a lad. Not that we've been blessed with many who are even remotely decent in recent years, but still, it makes a very nice change not to have a complete duffer there. He's been our most consistent player this year, I'm struggling to remember a bad game or a mistake he's made to be honest.
He was a bit ropey in the 3-0 win at Fulham if I remember, which was a good time to have an off day.
He gets a 9/10 for the season for me, he's been outstanding, even through the barren spell his form didn't drop.
Blimey you're dredging up the past there, are you my wife?!
Haha!
I get that sort of thing. 'I'm off out on Friday'
'Who with?'
'Tom'
'Oh god, don't get pissed like you did that time'
'Which time?'
'That time you got pissed and fell asleep on the bog'
'That was 7 years ago?'
'Yeah, that time'
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Can't praise him enough. He was always decent going foward and linking with Jack, but his defence is just another level this season. For me it's his positioning and bravery that has come on leaps and bounds. The amount of times I've said 'Targett is having a good game' this season, well it's pretty much most games. I'm pretty sure playing with Mings week in week out and without the pressure of the crowd has helped.
Really hope he can keep it up next year in front of fans and that he starts getting the praise he deserves. And a song. He should have a song.
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TV is right, without Jack, Targett is a steady7½ or 8 out of 10, every game. With Jack, that goes up to a 9. Of course Jack makes everybody else look better, but when he's not in the team everybody else seems to drop a couple of levels. Not our Matt though.
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He has shown great character to bounce back from a really poor season last term. He had admitted it himself. Needed to get physically and mentally stronger and now relishes duels with wingers. That is some transformation.
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Targett is awesome, I wouldn't swap him for anyone right now. He deserves massive credit for how he's developed this season.
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He's better than that fat shit Luke Shaw, I'm sorry.
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He's the best left back we've had since God was a lad. Not that we've been blessed with many who are even remotely decent in recent years, but still, it makes a very nice change not to have a complete duffer there. He's been our most consistent player this year, I'm struggling to remember a bad game or a mistake he's made to be honest.
He was a bit ropey in the 3-0 win at Fulham if I remember, which was a good time to have an off day.
He gets a 9/10 for the season for me, he's been outstanding, even through the barren spell his form didn't drop.
Blimey you're dredging up the past there, are you my wife?!
Haha!
I get that sort of thing. 'I'm off out on Friday'
'Who with?'
'Tom'
'Oh god, don't get pissed like you did that time'
'Which time?'
'That time you got pissed and fell asleep on the bog'
'That was 7 years ago?'
'Yeah, that time'
Are you married to my wife as well?
I haven’t been proper pissed since I climbed in my lads cot and fell sleep, he wasn’t in it by the way. This was around 2012 and it’s still being mentioned when I go out.
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He's the best left back we've had since God was a lad. Not that we've been blessed with many who are even remotely decent in recent years, but still, it makes a very nice change not to have a complete duffer there. He's been our most consistent player this year, I'm struggling to remember a bad game or a mistake he's made to be honest.
He was a bit ropey in the 3-0 win at Fulham if I remember, which was a good time to have an off day.
He gets a 9/10 for the season for me, he's been outstanding, even through the barren spell his form didn't drop.
Blimey you're dredging up the past there, are you my wife?!
Haha!
I get that sort of thing. 'I'm off out on Friday'
'Who with?'
'Tom'
'Oh god, don't get pissed like you did that time'
'Which time?'
'That time you got pissed and fell asleep on the bog'
'That was 7 years ago?'
'Yeah, that time'
Are you married to my wife as well?
I haven’t been proper pissed since I climbed in my lads cot and fell sleep, he wasn’t in it by the way. This was around 2012 and it’s still being mentioned when I go out.
Some bad behaviour from nearly 20 years ago got brought up by my wife yesterday. It’s not like it’s her only option.
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My wife's go to misdemeanor memory that quite often gets mentioned is not buying her flowers on the birth of our eldest. Our daughter will be forty-five in November!
Then there was the time we went to a mate's firms Christmas party which was fancy dress and I got pissed and she had to drive home whilst I threw up in the back of the car.
Another one was going around the corner to a mate's house to watch the Brighton v Manure FA Cup Final where once again I got pissed only this time on home brew. She had to collect me in the car, I didn't chuck up this time only because it was about three-hundred yards from our house and she then had to go and collect my mother so she could mind me and the kids while she went to work as she couldn't trust me to sober up in time.
These latter two get honourable mentions from time to time.
Let 'em go woman!
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my wife always drags up the time I fell asleep at the top of the stairs after England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003....
2003 !!!!!!
UTV
The Doc
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Mrs SE occasionally brings up incidents that I've told her about that happened between me and my ex, who I broke up with in 2012! Needless to say her sympathies lie 100% in the direction of the ex.
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A cashmere jumper on a too hot washing temperature - with an inevitable result - is my wife's go-to reminder of my feckless behaviour. 37 years and counting.
And yes, Targett and Konsa for me are nip and tuck for the Mr. Consistency award this season.
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I'd probably just edge it for Konsa, but that is no denegration of Matt who has been excellent all year.
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If he plays today, he'll be the first outfield player I a decade to play in every game.
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If he plays today, he'll be the first outfield player I a decade to play in every game.
I am sure Micah Richards would have done the same if only we had not treated him so shabbily😂
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Chuckle
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Mrs SE occasionally brings up incidents that I've told her about that happened between me and my ex, who I broke up with in 2012! Needless to say her sympathies lie 100% in the direction of the ex.
Vicarious rebukes from a bygone era? There's no topping that.
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Mrs SE occasionally brings up incidents that I've told her about that happened between me and my ex, who I broke up with in 2012! Needless to say her sympathies lie 100% in the direction of the ex.
Vicarious rebukes from a bygone era? There's no topping that.
And it relates to a holiday that I didn't go on with the ex as some kind of proof that I never do anything with Mrs SE. She last invoked it three months into our sojourn to Mexico.
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Congratulations to him for being Players' Player of the Season.
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Congratulations to him for being Players' Player of the Season.
Agreed Mr M. Superb all season.
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Congratulations to him for being Players' Player of the Season.
Brilliant fully deserved.
Great game today, an outside bet for the England squad
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Well deserved Marty Targett, best full back in the league. What a player he’s been.
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He's just so solid and consistent, and now that Jack's back, he's playing the really good attacking balls again.
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Suprised his performance hasnt been mentioned. He was so bad yesterday. Hinestly that was one of the worst left back displays ive seen in the last 12 months for us.
I dont undsertsnad why he felt the need to slide in for first goal. That was absolute suicide
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Well he was terrible, but in fairness he’s built up some credit in the bank over last season. I don’t think he was fully fit.
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He's the best left back we've had since God was a lad. Not that we've been blessed with many who are even remotely decent in recent years, but still, it makes a very nice change not to have a complete duffer there. He's been our most consistent player this year, I'm struggling to remember a bad game or a mistake he's made to be honest.
He was a bit ropey in the 3-0 win at Fulham if I remember, which was a good time to have an off day.
He gets a 9/10 for the season for me, he's been outstanding, even through the barren spell his form didn't drop.
Blimey you're dredging up the past there, are you my wife?!
Haha!
I get that sort of thing. 'I'm off out on Friday'
'Who with?'
'Tom'
'Oh god, don't get pissed like you did that time'
'Which time?'
'That time you got pissed and fell asleep on the bog'
'That was 7 years ago?'
'Yeah, that time'
I am relieved to read that I am not alone. SWMBO has a database in her brain that holds a 15-year back catalogue of all offences I have committed and deemed to have annoyed her. Even a minor comment about toothpaste squeezing or toilet roll position is filed away for later use when marital court convenes.
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Well deserved Marty Targett, best full back in the league. What a player he’s been.
…and now he’s utter shite according to some.
Things change very quickly don’t they?
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Well deserved Marty Targett, best full back in the league. What a player he’s been.
…and now he’s utter shite according to some.
Things change very quickly don’t they?
Nobodys said that though have they, what hyperbolic bollocks.
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Well deserved Marty Targett, best full back in the league. What a player he’s been.
…and now he’s utter shite according to some.
Things change very quickly don’t they?
Nobodys said that though have they, what hyperbolic bollocks.
Actually, loads have. He’s been slaughtered on here.
So save your “hyberbolic bollocks”.
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Many have said he played shite yesterday, thats as far as its gone.
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Well deserved Marty Targett, best full back in the league. What a player he’s been.
…and now he’s utter shite according to some.
Things change very quickly don’t they?
Can you show us where anyone has said that?
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Well deserved Marty Targett, best full back in the league. What a player he’s been.
…and now he’s utter shite according to some.
Things change very quickly don’t they?
Nobodys said that though have they, what hyperbolic bollocks.
Actually, loads have. He’s been slaughtered on here.
So save your “hyberbolic bollocks”.
He was utterly shite yesterday. That's not to take away all his good work of last season, but just saying it exactly as it is. Or do you think that Smith took him off at half time for some other reason?
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It’s Catch-22 for him. He’s not played in preseason so he’s not match ready but the only way he’s going to get it is by playing games.
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It’s Catch-22 for him. He’s not played in preseason so he’s not match ready but the only way he’s going to get it is by playing games.
Don't fancy him up against St. Maximin at the mo. Maybe play Young at left back and give Targett 90 minutes at Barrow?
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I bet he plays a blinder next week. Matt Targett is too good a professional to allow that to happen twice.
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Well he was terrible, but in fairness he’s built up some credit in the bank over last season. I don’t think he was fully fit.
Agree.
He looked a couple of yards slower than last season.
I know Sarr is rapid, but he wouldn’t have had such an easy time with last seasons Matt Targett
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As far as I understand he he had surgery in the summer and played very little pre season. Odd decision to start him yesterday under those circumstances.
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I bet he plays a blinder next week. Matt Targett is too good a professional to allow that to happen twice.
If Smith plays him. Wouldn't be surprised if he sticks with Young.
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I bet he plays a blinder next week. Matt Targett is too good a professional to allow that to happen twice.
If Smith plays him. Wouldn't be surprised if he sticks with Young.
I think he will keep faith with the back four that did us proud last season. One game should not change that. They will go back and evaluate what they did wrong and correct it.
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As far as I understand he he had surgery in the summer and played very little pre season. Odd decision to start him yesterday under those circumstances.
I didn’t know that he had an op during the break.
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He got the runaround yesterday because he was up against Sarr with no protection
I’ve no problem with Target and never have had
even in his so called dodgy season I always thought he would be a good un
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He’s a good player and will probably get better as he gets more experienced but I agree that if he’s not up to speed I’d stick with Young until the international break and see how he looks after that. That’s the whole idea behind having a better and deeper squad with good back up options and we should utilise them in exactly this sort of situation. He could even end up sharing the left back slot with Young for this season, he could learn from working closely with a quality older pro.
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It's a tough call as he was so poor for the 45mins. But I'd like to see him get back on the horse and start the Newcastle game. He was so good last season I don't want to see one poor half derail his progress.
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It's a tough call as he was so poor for the 45mins. But I'd like to see him get back on the horse and start the Newcastle game. He was so good last season I don't want to see one poor half derail his progress.
The team were poor and he was exposed
There’s no problem with target imo
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Last season's players player of the year and most improved player should get the starting position at LB irrespective of his performance at Watford (I think many underperformed, do we drop them all?).
If we are progressing as a football club Young should be nowhere near a starting position.
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I really hope what someone posted on this thread or another isn't true - pondering whether Targett plays much better without the presence of a crowd.
He did pull a whitey at Wolves the season before last after the crowd ridiculed him as he was getting the run-around from Traore. And he does have the look of someone who was either bullied at school or just a stoned-drifter (think Steves from 'People Just Do Nothing').
Anyway, hopefully not...
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Last season's players player of the year and most improved player should get the starting position at LB irrespective of his performance at Watford (I think many underperformed, do we drop them all?).
If we are progressing as a football club Young should be nowhere near a starting position.
Up next for Targetts practice
Allan Saint-Maximin
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Last season's players player of the year and most improved player should get the starting position at LB irrespective of his performance at Watford (I think many underperformed, do we drop them all?).
If we are progressing as a football club Young should be nowhere near a starting position.
Up next for Targetts practice
Allan Saint-Maximin
So?
I'd sooner Targett, who not so long ago was being touted for an England call-up rather than some aging footballer here for a last payday.
If we were serious about an understudy for Targett to seriously challenge him I'd rather have gone for someone a lot younger with PL experience rather than resort to a practice Villa have been doing without much success over the past 11 years.
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Young 2nd half left back coped with Sarr far better than Targett 1st half
That should be rewarded.
I much rather have Young dealing with Saint-Maximin based on the evidence.
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Young 2nd half left back coped with Sarr far better than Targett 1st half
That should be rewarded.
I much rather have Young dealing with Saint-Maximin based on the evidence.
Disagree Young was part of Targetts problem he didn't track back to help against Sarr who was a beast. Young did quite well at left back in second half but the threat of Sarr was somewhat
nullified as we brought Ramsay on to bolster the midfield.
For me Targett to start Saturday no question.
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Targett needs to start. Whoever plays in front of him needs to give him some help and not go AWOL like Young did in the first half. S&M is their best player by miles so we can afford to have two people focusing on him, when required.
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Last season's players player of the year and most improved player should get the starting position at LB irrespective of his performance at Watford (I think many underperformed, do we drop them all?).
If we are progressing as a football club Young should be nowhere near a starting position.
Ashley Young who's just won a Serie A winner's medal, and who kept a winger quiet who'd murdered Matt Targett just the other side of halftime? All my Inter-supporting mates were very complimentary about him, the general comparison re. his fitness and longevity being with Javier Zanetti, and Inter fans don't give higher praise than that. He's a perfectly good starting option.
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Last season's players player of the year and most improved player should get the starting position at LB irrespective of his performance at Watford (I think many underperformed, do we drop them all?).
If we are progressing as a football club Young should be nowhere near a starting position.
Ashley Young who's just won a Serie A winner's medal, and who kept a winger quiet who'd murdered Matt Targett just the other side of halftime? All my Inter-supporting mates were very complimentary about him, the general comparison re. his fitness and longevity being with Javier Zanetti, and Inter fans don't give higher praise than that. He's a perfectly good starting option.
Im with you. Targett would not be starting for me after that showing. He was absymal
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See I'm not sure I want to drop Targett completely, he was great last year. Just that I don't think Young is as terrible an option as some seem to think.
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See I'm not sure I want to drop Targett completely, he was great last year. Just that I don't think Young is as terrible an option as some seem to think.
Play Young on Saturday and let Targett have the cup game to improve his sharpness would seem the obvious way to go.
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The thing about Targett last year was just how effortlessly he dealt with the quick, tricky wingers that had troubled him so much the season before. I don't recall him having a bad game against anybody to be honest, yet inside 10 minutes against Watford, Sarr had done him all ends up for pace and skill at least two or three times. Either he wasn't fully fit, in which case he shouldn't have started, or he's forgotten what made him so good last year. Either way, he needs to get it sorted, and sharpish, or Saint-Maximin will tear him a new one as well.
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Fistface will be targetting that lwft side there is no doubt about so plans will need to be made.
Should have bloody just stuck bailey on sarrs side. Baileys alot quicker than sarr
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Hasn’t anyone here had a bad day in their job? Target was excellent for us last season…get off his back!
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Last season's players player of the year and most improved player should get the starting position at LB irrespective of his performance at Watford (I think many underperformed, do we drop them all?).
If we are progressing as a football club Young should be nowhere near a starting position.
Ashley Young who's just won a Serie A winner's medal, and who kept a winger quiet who'd murdered Matt Targett just the other side of halftime? All my Inter-supporting mates were very complimentary about him, the general comparison re. his fitness and longevity being with Javier Zanetti, and Inter fans don't give higher praise than that. He's a perfectly good starting option.
That may be so, but I didn't see many of the scab 6 teams lining up to bring him back. Us and Burnley I think. He is not where we should be heading. A bit part player off the bench is the best I can see for him, otherwise we should have done better in the transfer market to ensure adequate cover in the LB position who has got a good few years ahead of him, with pace and a sell-on value if things didn't work out.
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The thing about Targett last year was just how effortlessly he dealt with the quick, tricky wingers that had troubled him so much the season before. I don't recall him having a bad game against anybody to be honest, yet inside 10 minutes against Watford, Sarr had done him all ends up for pace and skill at least two or three times. Either he wasn't fully fit, in which case he shouldn't have started, or he's forgotten what made him so good last year. Either way, he needs to get it sorted, and sharpish, or Saint-Maximin will tear him a new one as well.
He can't have been fit given that he went through most of the close season with an injury.
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Stage-fright in front of big crowds especially away from home. He's a sensitive soul. Great in empty stadia though.
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See I'm not sure I want to drop Targett completely, he was great last year. Just that I don't think Young is as terrible an option as some seem to think.
Play Young on Saturday and let Targett have the cup game to improve his sharpness would seem the obvious way to go.
Dean Smith
"I thought Ashley Young dealt with Sarr a lot better in the second half."
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Targett shouldn’t have started. Should have been Young LB, Traore RW and Eh Gashi LW.
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Targett shouldn’t have started.
Easy to say now, but not one single person would have called that before the game.
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Targett shouldn’t have started.
Easy to say now, but not one single person would have called that before the game.
I was surprised to be honest, but thought Smith would know best. Never mind.
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Targett shouldn’t have started.
Easy to say now, but not one single person would have called that before the game.
I was surprised to be honest, but thought Smith would know best. Never mind.
You was surprised one of the best Left Backs in the League last season started as Left Back? Ok.
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Targett shouldn’t have started.
Easy to say now, but not one single person would have called that before the game.
I was surprised to be honest, but thought Smith would know best. Never mind.
You was surprised one of the best Left Backs in the League last season started as Left Back? Ok.
Correct Lukey boy.
I believe from reading here he had surgery in the summer and only featured in one game. Going off that, yes. I expected Young to start LB
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Targett shouldn’t have started.
Easy to say now, but not one single person would have called that before the game.
I was surprised to be honest, but thought Smith would know best. Never mind.
You was surprised one of the best Left Backs in the League last season started as Left Back? Ok.
Correct Lukey boy.
I believe from reading here he had surgery in the summer and only featured in one game. Going off that, yes. I expected Young to start LB
Great call mate, I think Spinks is going to play a big part in the European Cup final.
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Targett shouldn’t have started.
Easy to say now, but not one single person would have called that before the game.
I was surprised to be honest, but thought Smith would know best. Never mind.
You was surprised one of the best Left Backs in the League last season started as Left Back? Ok.
Correct Lukey boy.
I believe from reading here he had surgery in the summer and only featured in one game. Going off that, yes. I expected Young to start LB
Great call mate, I think Spinks is going to play a big part in the European Cup final.
I won’t spoil it for you kid :D
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His lack of form at the start of this season is worrying. After his breakthrough season this has been a very slow start, he looks short of pace and unable to find a pass. A player that was on the verge of the England squad for the Euros is now struggling against the Barrow Scottish Cafu... We may have Young as cover, beyond that though Hause hasn't got the distribution to fill the gap long term. A little concerning.
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His lack of form at the start of this season is worrying. After his breakthrough season this has been a very slow start, he looks short of pace and unable to find a pass. A player that was on the verge of the England squad for the Euros is now struggling against the Barrow Scottish Cafu... We may have Young as cover, beyond that though Hause hasn't got the distribution to fill the gap long term. A little concerning.
He was taking a throw in during the first half and was drying the ball on his shirt thus exposing his midriff. He doesn’t look as svelt as he should, or to quote JG is he carrying a little timber?
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His lack of form at the start of this season is worrying. After his breakthrough season this has been a very slow start, he looks short of pace and unable to find a pass. A player that was on the verge of the England squad for the Euros is now struggling against the Barrow Scottish Cafu... We may have Young as cover, beyond that though Hause hasn't got the distribution to fill the gap long term. A little concerning.
He was taking a throw in during the first half and was drying the ball on his shirt thus exposing his midriff. He doesn’t look as svelt as he should, or to quote JG is he carrying a little timber?
I saw that. If he's in the market for a midriff exchange he can have mine.
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is he a fatty now i didn’t notice ?
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is he a fatty now i didn’t notice ?
Well I’d be happy to have his gut but he’s not as toned as you would expect a professional athlete to be.
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He did well enough for me yesterday. defended well. The only player who i thought diddnt play very well was nakamaba
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He did well enough for me yesterday. defended well. The only player who i thought diddnt play very well was nakamaba
I agree, I thought he was sound last night.
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I'm still a massive fan of Targett, but I'd be starting Young again on Saturday.
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Doesn't look match fit at all and I posted on the post match Newcastle thread that he looked like he'd piled on the pounds, particularly thights and bum. He was bursting out of his shorts during the warm up on Saturday.
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is he a fatty now i didn’t notice ?
Well I’d be happy to have his gut but he’s not as toned as you would expect a professional athlete to be.
Ridiculous if he has let himself go over the summer, injury or not.
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I think he's a bit like McGinn, in that even when's he at peak fitness he's never going to be as naturally toned as the likes of Ronaldo. It doesn't take much then, for a couple of extra pounds and a drop in fitness to be really noticeable. McGinn was the same when he came back from injury the season before last. We've seen how good he can be, but he needs to get back to peak fitness and get used to not having Ratboy occupying the opposition team.
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is he a fatty now i didn’t notice ?
Well I’d be happy to have his gut but he’s not as toned as you would expect a professional athlete to be.
Ridiculous if he has let himself go over the summer, injury or not.
Yep. Ratboy going obviously could affect his game as much as anyone’s, but I think the real issue might be as simple as this.
Enjoyed his summer off, came back carrying too much timber. Really disappointing if so as he was still picking up his £40k per week (or whatever) over the summer.
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is he a fatty now i didn’t notice ?
Well I’d be happy to have his gut but he’s not as toned as you would expect a professional athlete to be.
Ridiculous if he has let himself go over the summer, injury or not.
Yep. Ratboy going obviously could affect his game as much as anyone’s, but I think the real issue might be as simple as this.
Enjoyed his summer off, came back carrying too much timber. Really disappointing if so as he was still picking up his £40k per week (or whatever) over the summer.
Smith has said he was in a boot for the first 6 weeks of the summer so I don't think it's fair to suggest it's a lack professionalism, more just a consequence of an injury coinciding with being away from the club.
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I'm still a massive fan of Targett, but I'd be starting Young again on Saturday.
Yup. Fortunately we have that luxury. Targett obviously needs time to recover and rediscover his fitness. He should be back to the real Matt Targett after the international break.
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Targett played almost every minute of last season - to doubt if he's in shape or not is a bit strange - you don't get through a 38 game season without being at your peak.
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Targett played almost every minute of last season - to doubt if he's in shape or not is a bit strange - you don't get through a 38 game season without being at your peak.
It doesn’t take long to pile on a few pounds though.
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Targett played almost every minute of last season - to doubt if he's in shape or not is a bit strange - you don't get through a 38 game season without being at your peak.
It doesn’t take long to pile on a few pounds though.
about 20 mins at the Chinese buffet...
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Targett played almost every minute of last season - to doubt if he's in shape or not is a bit strange - you don't get through a 38 game season without being at your peak.
It doesn’t take long to pile on a few pounds though.
Don’t I know it.
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I wasn't sure if Targett had lost focus due to being a newly wed and/or was all luved up?! But a quick internet search later it looks as though he just proposed during the off season.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/aston-villa-targett-girlfriend-proposal-24259746
Maybe he's distracted organising a wedding? I've heard these things can be stressful and can take a bit of organising?
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I wasn't sure if Targett had lost focus due to being a newly wed and/or was all luved up?! But a quick internet search later it looks as though he just proposed during the off season.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/aston-villa-targett-girlfriend-proposal-24259746
Maybe he's distracted organising a wedding? I've heard these things can be stressful and can take a bit of organising?
While I don't see it as a valid excuse.. mo' money, mo' problems!
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Smith has said he was in a boot for the first 6 weeks of the summer so I don't think it's fair to suggest it's a lack professionalism...
He could do with six weeks in a boot camp now.
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For all his improvements last season and they were much improved I feel he's been found wanting this.
Specialist in the wing back mode and 3-5- 2 he ain't.
He also no way near impacting the attacking play in reasonable manner and has been our left sided attacker now and main player on that side if pitch which has left me feeling frustrated
That feeling is because he doesn't have the tools to get goals and assists yet has been afforded that space on the pitch and has been letting the side down
Good luck him but doesn't have the where with all and abilities including athletic to get up and down as wing back as well as the worry he gets into when in the box
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You obviously didn't watch the Man U game then. He was great.
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For all his improvements last season and they were much improved I feel he's been found wanting this.
He's shown next to no signs of becoming a wing back. Wing backs can cross a ball for a start and Targett rarely beats the first man even with all the time and space in the world. He had a very good game by his recent standards against the Plastics last weekend but that was more down to his defending. The less said about his miss from 2 yards the better. Shit happens. He got himself in the goalscoring position which is a big positive.
Like El Ghazi I'll give him a pass until he's fully up to speed. As others of said he was injured during the summer.
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You obviously didn't watch the Man U game then. He was great.
I'm talking in an attacking capacity.
He was far from great. And he missed a great chance which could have cost us.
I just don't see him as much offer if flair in attack
I think he is more than useful at left back but wing back I don't think he's suited
Deeply lacking in attacking play. But that just my view.
Cash was a winger so he knows how to attack and play Hugh up the pitch can't be said same for MT
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You obviously didn't watch the Man U game then. He was great.
Last season he improved as the season went on, he is getting back to his best form again.
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deleted for temporary disphasia
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I've never seen Targett vocal in anything . He's just very passive. And that personality shows up in his attacking
Maybe a little groan to ref but hardly anything.
He is someone who gets on with his game but he takes ages on throws and struggles in attacking play or in opposition box.
Considering we have Bailey who is a high flying, El Goalzi who gets goals and last season Grealish then others can feel with me the frustration to witness Targett as the now premier attacking on our left side of the pitch in this 3-5-2
Not only that we have Ashley Young expert in squad at wing back.
I've seen several left wing backs likes of Chillwell, Alonso at Chelsea and yesterday Cucurella of Brighton who get forward , shoot and attack the box
Luke Shaw and Digne too are left backs who attack and deliver great balls in and get into the area.
Targett major weakness from where I'm standing is that he's not an agressive at attacking as a left back or left wing back. He's a much improved player who is determined but like Neil Taylor before him he's not comfortable in the opposition penalty area in any shape or form.
I don't know what can be done with this 3-5-2 and about him learning any attacking prowess as we play high up the pitch.
I guess I'll continue to be frustrated with his attacking contributions till we change the formation or he becomes less passive and more confident to show something of substance in an attacking.
That miss on a plate last week vs Man Utd was so poor.
I don't see left sided attackers El Ghazi, Young, Bailey or Grealish missing that. Chilwell scored yesterday from his left wing back role.
I like MT and he's improved immeasurablly but just making observations regarding his attacking play
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I thinks he’s absolutely brilliant at full back and an excellent defender. At times he linked up very well with Grealish, they had a very good understanding. So far this season he’s had to come back from an injury, with a shocking pre-season and also a few games into the season we’ve adapted a very new system. I though against Man Utd he was excellent and early in in the Everton game he pulled off a brilliant early tackle which set the tone against their attack.
He might lack a little with his final ball into the box but his other qualities make up for it.
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I'm specifically talking about an attacking player not about any defence
His lack of bonus in attacking play
That's the next step.
Defence isn't the concern.
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Great assist for the goal to Watkins but seemed run out of stream towards end of game
Also scored the og but was better going forward to today
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Should have been two assists, Ings should have buried that chance.
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Cant believe they are giving thag as a own goal. That was a moura goal for me
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If only matty T attacked the ball like that in the opposition area...
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I think the 5-3-2 suits Cash. Not so sure about Targett though.
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I think the 5-3-2 suits Cash. Not so sure about Targett though.
Made the goal today, cant blame him for their goal
I was one pushing for 3 at the back to be given a chance in certain games....but I don't think it suits either full back and none of the three centre backs seemed happy today, Konsa particularly.
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doesn't seem to be a january window thread yet, but sounds like villa are lining up aaron hickey of bologna (ex-hearts) - https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/aaron-hickey-former-hearts-youngster-linked-with-move-to-english-premier-league-3415039
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doesn't seem to be a january window thread yet, but sounds like villa are lining up aaron hickey of bologna (ex-hearts) - https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/aaron-hickey-former-hearts-youngster-linked-with-move-to-english-premier-league-3415039
Think we were linked with him before he left Hearts as well, among such company as Bayern Munich, so could be one we've carried on watching.
Mind you, the writer also thinks that Freddie Guilbert was Targett's deputy at left-back so not sure how much to trust them!
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Targett doesn't work so well as a left wing back to me and therefore I'm of the opinion he's not had a good season so far
Discuss or debate but is there any debate ?
In a back 4 very happy to have him
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I think Footy has a new pet hate now Joe has gone.
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I think Footy has a new pet hate now Joe has gone.
It has been going on a while - particularly now Wesley is out of the frame as well
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He's not a wing-back. Let him do what he's good at.
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If only matty T attacked the ball like that in the opposition area...
Brighton home 19/20 season winning goal in last minute and Leicester H Carabao Cup SF. Think you'll find he's scored double the goals that Matty Cash has Footy.
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I think Footy has a new pet hate now Joe has gone.
It has been going on a while - particularly now Wesley is out of the frame as well
Oh and everyone is allowed to badger Mings but Matt Targett isn't allowed critical eye. Come on now let's play fair.
I want them all to do well and I just have an eye on what can be improved
In case of all players be it JG , Wes or MT.
Anyhow let's all acknowledge Targett has improved from when he first came into club and did we know that he made every match minute last season and has a higher standard to perform to
Perhaps the change of position and the fact he played all 38 league matches last season and hasn't much break and rest saw him immediately struggle v Watford then dropped when as said he was ever present.
I'm sure he'll come good and for whatever reason as a full back attacker he's better than a wing back attacker to my minds eye.
Up the Villa. And will have a 6 game watch of Targett and only comment on him positively if at all in the period.
My game is fair play.
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Oh and everyone is allowed to badger Mings but Matt Targett isn't allowed critical eye. Come on now let's play fair.
Mings and Targett have both rightly been lambasted for some performance issues recently. Neither is as bad as some make out, though.
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Are we back to the default of bashing the left back, whoever they are?
Targett's missed much of the pre-season, then been asked to play in a position that doesn't suit him. He was comfortably our best outfield player last season.
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Matt Targett has been great for us. He's improving all the time. Whilst I know he missed that chance that perhaps he should have scored, he did well to even get in their box.
When you look at a number of tackles he's made, he's doing great.
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Agreed. He's certainly doing much better than Ashley Young has this season.
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Agreed. He's certainly doing much better than Ashley Young has this season.
Yep, Young looks like a less good Elmo to me, to be honest. He's OK as a reserve full back, but there's no way he should be starting games, and his crossing is wank.
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Matt Targett has been great for us. He's improving all the time. Whilst I know he missed that chance that perhaps he should have scored, he did well to even get in their box.
When you look at a number of tackles he's made, he's doing great.
I would add he was Players Player of the Season last season and rightly so in my opinion.
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His game is based around defensive solidity.
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His game is based around defensive solidity.
we didn't see much of that at the end of the game Saturday
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His game is based around defensive solidity.
we didn't see much of that at the end of the game Saturday
I used to think you talked sense..no offence but I did look out for your posts
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For more first half shambles vs Arsenal
As I said and saw Targett has been liable and yet again it happens
I been disturbed how so many here didn't want to face the almighty truth that I pointed out about Targett struggles this season.
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He’s not a wing back. hasn’t played well, but was no worse than anybody else.
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Like a few others he looks like he doesn't know what his job is. First half today he got caught repeatedly in no mans land where he was too deep to be an outlet on the left but too far forward to be defensively sound. Cash copes a little better but still looks uncomfortable and both Konsa and Mings look like they're not quite sure where they're supposed to be. The only defender who looked 'right' positionally was Tuanzebe but he's just not good enough to fuck over all the rest to accommodate.
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His crossing is very poor. Hits the first man constantly.
That's not great for a wing back.
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His crossing is very poor. Hits the first man constantly.
That's not great for a wing back.
It was fine when he was just at left back. His confidence looks in tatters now aswell. Maybe it was always going to be a bit of a struggle for him after Grealish left. They worked well as a pair on the left flank last season. LWB is simply not his position.
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His crossing is very poor. Hits the first man constantly.
That's not great for a wing back.
It was fine when he was just at left back. His confidence looks in tatters now aswell. Maybe it was always going to be a bit of a struggle for him after Grealish left. They worked well as a pair on the left flank last season. LWB is simply not his position.
having 2 players out wide meant there was always a chance for one of them to drag a player or 2 out of position and open a gap, Targett thrived on the gaps Grealish created. Now he has no one shifting defenders and he hasn't got the technical ability to create those gaps himself so he's either crossing from poor positions or under too much pressure. Put Bailey in front of him and he'd be back to his old self in a matter of weeks.
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His crossing is very poor. Hits the first man constantly.
That's not great for a wing back.
It was fine when he was just at left back. His confidence looks in tatters now aswell. Maybe it was always going to be a bit of a struggle for him after Grealish left. They worked well as a pair on the left flank last season. LWB is simply not his position.
having 2 players out wide meant there was always a chance for one of them to drag a player or 2 out of position and open a gap, Targett thrived on the gaps Grealish created. Now he has no one shifting defenders and he hasn't got the technical ability to create those gaps himself so he's either crossing from poor positions or under too much pressure. Put Bailey in front of him and he'd be back to his old self in a matter of weeks.
Hope so as I don't think Young is up to it even on a short term basis. Even in the second half tonight he looked all over the place. Seemed to jump under a header in our box at one point which looked terrible. Time to go back to basics.
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Vs West Ham first half
Still we persist with playing Targett.
I've been saying and hoping more can see his deficiencies
Yet again weak defending and play on the ball.
Awful
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Vs West Ham first half
Still we persist with playing Targett.
I've been saying and hoping more can see his deficiencies
Yet again weak defending and play on the ball.
Awful
100% agree. It's not like we haven't got others that can play there
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He's no good without the Grealish get out clause in front of him.
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Just back to making poor decisions I'm afraid.
Was practically playing as a CB in build up to 1st goal given how infield he was and can't understand how Antonio flicked it on for the 4th when he jumped early.
Not as bad as 19/20 but not a good season from him so far.
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That challenge on Antonio was a disgrace...that done on one of our players and we would be in meltdown here
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He's no good without the Grealish get out clause in front of him.
Or when he's playing in a stadium full of people?
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His delivery this season is worse than Hermes
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His delivery this season is worse than Hermes
oh to make me smile on a dark day thank you
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That challenge on Antonio was a disgrace...that done on one of our players and we would be in meltdown here
That 'tackle' was laughable at the end on Antonio.
Some sort of high tackle in rugby league code he be off
If they hadn't scored VAR may have revisited it.
Certainly between Hause and Targett the players showed some force!
Two of the worst tackles I've ever seen in rugby on a football pitch!
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That challenge on Antonio was a disgrace...that done on one of our players and we would be in meltdown here
Yep. I think the ref bottled that one, as they scored anyway. If it had been 1-1 I think he'd have been off. He's gone back to being the shit Targett we saw in his first season.
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He's no good without the Grealish get out clause in front of him.
Or when he's playing in a stadium full of people?
Then he'll have to stick to playing FIFA in his bedroom.
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A left back is priority in the window
I read rumour on twitter " Aston Villa preparing to make ‘monster offer’ for Borussia Dortmund defender Raphael Guerreiro. Villa are willing to offer a pay package & wage that cannot be turned down to both #BVB & the player. Villa have MONEY to spend this January."
If that happened would be amazing and 100% upgrade on Targett
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A left back is priority in the window
I read rumour on twitter " Aston Villa preparing to make ‘monster offer’ for Borussia Dortmund defender Raphael Guerreiro. Villa are willing to offer a pay package & wage that cannot be turned down to both #BVB & the player. Villa have MONEY to spend this January."
If that happened would be amazing and 100% upgrade on Targett
He'd still have Dean Smith as a manager though.
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Anyone know what his injury was last night and how bad it is?
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Got in an aerial challenge in the second half. Think it was either a clash of heads or his head hit the ground when he came down.
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Their player had absolutely no intention of getting the ball and played the man, acknowledged by Dean as a foul with his play on gesture.
Of course, as ever, no further action taken.
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Anyone know what his injury was last night and how bad it is?
Looked like concussion so probably misses the weekend but should be back for Liverpool.
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Their player had absolutely no intention of getting the ball and played the man, acknowledged by Dean as a foul with his play on gesture.
Of course, as ever, no further action taken.
Yeah, he never was never close to the ball, it was dangerous play and should have been a stick on yellow.
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For all Matt Targett improvement he isn't fit enough or aggressive enough for Gerrard as well as having little attacking ability , crossing and passing level that's needed for the next step.
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I think he would be a better leftside centre half in a 3
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I think he would be a better leftside centre half in a 3
In the championship or Belgium
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I think he would be a better leftside centre half in a 3
In the championship or Belgium
quite specific
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I think he would be a better leftside centre half in a 3
In the championship or Belgium
That’s a bit harsh, SG plays the full backs differently give him a chance mate
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I caught a glimpse of his little sad face on the bench on Saturday and it made me sad as well.
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You can see Digne is a cut above but it doesn't make Targett a bad player, it means that's one area of the squad we can be happy we're well stocked.
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I caught a glimpse of his little sad face on the bench on Saturday and it made me sad as well.
I like him but he does have a face that he is away with the fairies
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Linked with Newcastle. It would be nice to face him in February, we certainly know his weaknesses.
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Linked with Newcastle. It would be nice to face him in February, we certainly know his weaknesses.
I hope that’s not the case, but Zif it is true I’d certainly be looking to double what we paid.
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We paid £15m ish didn't we? £25m seems about right at that rate.
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We paid £15m ish didn't we? £25m seems about right at that rate.
Yeah to anyone but Newcastle. To them it should be way more.
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Norwich should be going in for him he's a good fit he's experienced left back and of course Deano knows him can aid their fight to stay up rather than going all the way up to Newcastle
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We shouldn't be selling anyone to Newcastle, no PL teams should.
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We shouldn't be selling anyone to Newcastle, no PL teams should.
Agreed. And as many top players as possible should be loaned to Watford to help them stay up, and send Newcastle and Burnley down.
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You can see Digne is a cut above but it doesn't make Targett a bad player, it means that's one area of the squad we can be happy we're well stocked.
Exactly. We are nearing a stage where we need not just adequate but quality replacements for every position. Targett falls into that category. He's not someone we should be selling in a hurry.
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Steven Gerrard said he wants two good quality players in each position. Targett should not be loaned or sold, especially to f*****g Newcastle! You can bet if we let him leave Digne would get injured. We have to build a competitive squad! Only last weekend Konsa got injured just after Tuanzebe departed......that should serve as a warning not to weaken your squad.
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....snd Three senior goalies!!
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Steven Gerrard said he wants two good quality players in each position. Targett should not be loaned or sold, especially to f*****g Newcastle! You can bet if we let him leave Digne would get injured. We have to build a competitive squad! Only last weekend Konsa got injured just after Tuanzebe departed......that should serve as a warning not to weaken your squad.
Gerrard said he wants two good quality players in each position…
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Am I wrong or is Trippier not a left back? Left backs is all I’ve seen them linked with this week. Or has Trippier left already?
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Am I wrong or is Trippier not a left back? Left backs is all I’ve seen them linked with this week. Or has Trippier left already?
Right back.
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He can play both sides but he’s playing RB up there.
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He can play both sides but he’s playing RB up there.
Yeah, Gareth Southgate went down the MON route a while back of having a number of left-backs at his disposal in the England set up, but chose to play a Trippier out of position ahead of all of them.
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Ah, makes a bit more sense then.
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If Targett does go to the barcodes, it is arguable whether he actually improves them. I think he's had some really good games for us but has been largely disappointing. If we get anywhere near to what we paid for him, it will be a bonus. Too slow for the upper Premier Division, which is where we are heading. I guess he will be a stepping stone for Newcastle whilst they get their shit together.
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I think Dean/Terry/O'Keefe etc. deserve a lot of credit for improving Targett's game. He was a weak link in our first season back, getting sick on the pitch and twisted blood from the likes of Traore running rings around him and crying off injured before half-time a couple of times.
He got stronger and more confident during "Project Restart" and has improved immeasurably. That should be factored into any valuation of him if we decide to let him go. And at 26, he's at an optimum age for buying clubs.
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If Targett does go to the barcodes, it is arguable whether he actually improves them. I think he's had some really good games for us but has been largely disappointing. If we get anywhere near to what we paid for him, it will be a bonus. Too slow for the upper Premier Division, which is where we are heading. I guess he will be a stepping stone for Newcastle whilst they get their shit together.
Harsh. Surely he can't have been 'largely disappointing' given he was voted last season's Player of the Year.
I'm happy we got Digne but I also hope we keep Targett.
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I would hope he stays unless we get an offer £25m +.
As stated above, he is 26, so a great age still and can still improve and was player of the year.
To get anywhere in this league, as well as having a cup run or two next season, you need a quality squad, so hope stays.
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I would hope he stays unless we get an offer £25m +.
As stated above, he is 26, so a great age still and can still improve and was player of the year.
To get anywhere in this league, as well as having a cup run or two next season, you need a quality squad, so hope stays.
If I supported whichever club decided to bid 25m on Targett, I’d be a tad annoyed that they didn’t spend it on a better player in Digne instead!
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I think Dean/Terry/O'Keefe etc. deserve a lot of credit for improving Targett's game. He was a weak link in our first season back, getting sick on the pitch and twisted blood from the likes of Traore running rings around him and crying off injured before half-time a couple of times.
He got stronger and more confident during "Project Restart" and has improved immeasurably. That should be factored into any valuation of him if we decide to let him go. And at 26, he's at an optimum age for buying clubs.
Or, he was just injured?
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He looked more mortified than injured tbh. After the 3 month lockdown he was like a different player.
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I don’t want him to go anywhere, at least until one of the kids is fully up to speed. He’s improved a huge amount, and is a steady 7/10 performer most weeks. The challenge for the management team is to get him back to being as good as he was with Greasy in front of him. If he does, then Digne won’t have an easy ride being first pick.
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I would hope he stays unless we get an offer £25m +.
As stated above, he is 26, so a great age still and can still improve and was player of the year.
To get anywhere in this league, as well as having a cup run or two next season, you need a quality squad, so hope stays.
If I supported whichever club decided to bid 25m on Targett, I’d be a tad annoyed that they didn’t spend it on a better player in Digne instead!
It would be about wages more than transfer fee - Digne is alleged to be on £120k pw
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I know people associate Targett's downturn in form with the loss of Grealish but when the latter was out injured last season, Targett was one of the few who maintained his form during a period of downturn for the entire team.
He was brilliant last season and hardly put a foot wrong. His levels have dipped this year, although in general he's been defensively sound. The problem is with the profile of full back Gerrard wants as he pursues a style of play that mirrors the likes of Liverpool, where the full backs are important creative outlets.
He's another reliable player and great pro who has played a crucial role in establishing The Villa back where we belong. I hope he stays but he's too good to play 2 or 3 games a year. I'm always wary of making assumptions about a player's personality because us fans do it all the time when in reality we now sod all about them but he does come across as a confidence, possibly even nervous character may have reacted better to Smudger's style of management rather than Steven's.
He was brilliant last season regardless, I can't remember too many players who improved so much in such a short space of time. We'll leave behind some great servants and very good players getting to where we hope we're going and Matty Targett looks like being one of them.
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If Targett does go to the barcodes, it is arguable whether he actually improves them. I think he's had some really good games for us but has been largely disappointing. If we get anywhere near to what we paid for him, it will be a bonus. Too slow for the upper Premier Division, which is where we are heading. I guess he will be a stepping stone for Newcastle whilst they get their shit together.
If we decide to sell him we'll get a hell of a lot more than we paid. 26 years old, lots of Premier League experience, club player of the year last season, and in a position lots of clubs aren't well-stocked. If it's Newcastle after him, considering what they've just paid for 3-goal Chris Wood then I'd expect £25 million minimum from them.
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I think Benitez/Everton missed a trick not going for Targett when we were getting in Digne. Gerrard wants more from his full backs with the ball and that will never be Targett's game. But Targett proved last season what he was capable of and should have plenty of takers, better than Newcastle too.
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Great for us last year.
Almost McGrathesque reading of the game at times (without the backheels and overhead kicks out of his own area, obv).
It must be a real pisser for him to see one of Gerrard's first buys being a high profile player in the exact same position as him, so can understand if he wants out.
But we shouldn't make it easy for Newcastle or anyone else.
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He is another player like Nakamba that most had written off only to prove that with better coaching can improve dramatically. Never caused any trouble for the club and even when not on form was always trying his best. The games changed though and full backs these days also have to be wingers. I would like to keep him but wish him well wherever he ends up.
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He's never going to be a get to the line and whip a cross in-type.
But he showed last year he could support Grealish in attack. Some of our best performances that season (Arsenal away, Liverpool at home) were with him in the final third, keeping pressure of the opposition backline with intelligent passes and link up play.
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He is solid and I hope we keep him as plan B if Diane gets injured etc. But it's right that he's been upgraded.
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I do wonder if another factor with Targett has been the empty stadiums. Did he feel less pressure? He didn't seem to be as good on the ball this season with fans back.
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Fucking ref
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Fucking ref
Crikey, that's quite a rumour.
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Newcastle want Matt Targett in this transfer window apparently.
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If its stupid money then fair enough, if not then theres no point.
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No, tell Newcastle to do one.
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Talk of a medical up there tomorrow for a loan deal until the end of the season.
I don't really get it though - we signed Digne because, yes, he was an improvement, but also because we had no cover if Targett got injured. Letting Targett go out on loan leaves us at risk for the rest of the season.
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A loan would be utterly fucking moronic.
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I would be pretty unhappy with Targett going there. If they stay up they become a problem to whatever our plans are.
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I just don't get the loan talk. £30 million, no probs. Loan, what the fuck are we doing. Utter bonkers.
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Talk of a medical up there tomorrow for a loan deal until the end of the season.
I don't really get it though - we signed Digne because, yes, he was an improvement, but also because we had no cover if Targett got injured. Letting Targett go out on loan leaves us at risk for the rest of the season.
Just a train of thought, but ...
For the next ~6 months at least, we can use Ashley Young as left back. Targett will be getting regular games up there, it's possible that he's not happy with the lack of game time at us, but doesn't want to spend any time in the Championship. Bit of a safety net for him, and presumably we're getting a decent loan fee.
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Have the Club lost their minds ? Loaning Targett to bloody NEWCASTLE. We should not be helping them out AT ALL. Sell him for Big Money but a loan?? This on top of us penny pinching on a player for a position we are in desperate need of just does not make sense?
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Isn’t this just paper talk in the silly season?
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It’s a very strange decision if we are letting a perfectly good back up LB go on loan unless somehow he has said he wants it. I don’t trust Young at all as a full time back up to Digne.
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Someone far more with it than me has pointed out that if they pay a huge loan fee, and all his wages, then buy him in the summer, that's much better for us in FFP terms. Still don't like it.
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Yes, I'm sure we'd be careful about a hefty loan fee working out better for us pro-rata with a perm in the summer than a transfer now.
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Someone far more with it than me has pointed out that if they pay a huge loan fee, and all his wages, then buy him in the summer, that's much better for us in FFP terms. Still don't like it.
I can't imagine they'd pay a loan fee and then stump up the same transfer fee as another team in the summer. It would be a loan with an option to buy at a price that factors in any loan fee already paid.
I've got no issue with him going to Newcastle - selling them players who aren't good enough to play for us isn't what I imagine the Saudis thought they were signing up to. My concern is over the lack of cover if Digne gets injured or suspended.
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There was talk of Young being loaned/sold but he said he didn't want to leave. Targett will want to play, so may have said he does want to go.
I'd rather we gave Newcastle nothing, or at least strung them along until the last minute, and still gave them nothing. Besides, I like Targett and he can do a good job for us.
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FFS, he's our Player of the Season.
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FFS, he's our Player of the Season.
Bit like Habib Beye was theirs.
(Also, is he?!)
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*Player's Player Of The Season 2020/21
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Maybe he wants to go? players have all the power
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Maybe he wants to go? players have all the power
That's the thing really. That said, if the objective really is to have 2 good players for every position, then the first time we replace a first team regular and they bigger off, isn't a great look.
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Unless Gerrard sees Young as cover for Digne I don't think this is a good move tbh. I can't see much sense in a loan being any good to us.
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We have only got 16 matches left now for the rest of this season, and Targett clearly isn't first choice. One of the things that we have been terrible at over the years, and why we got into so much trouble at one point, is picking up decent money for anyone other than our best players.
Targett has been a good servant to us (and never been as bad as some on here have made out), but if we have a better option in the first eleven then now is probably the best time for him to go before his stock starts to slide too much. We have Young and Hause who can do a job as back-up, and then in the summer if we should be looking at getting in someone younger as second choice to Digne and potentially his long-term replacement. Top sides are always able to make decent money selling squad players, we should be no different.
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I'd keep Targett until the summer unless he really wants to go, worried it will leave us short at LB.
Really hope we pull out a shithouse centre midfielder today.
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Ridiculous move if it happens. Why weaken the LB position and in turn help bloody Newcastle? Keep the squad together!
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Whilst we may not want to let a player goto Newcastle, you also have to consider that the very fact it's them and they're willing to pay over the odds for a player that's just recently become surplus, which in terms of FFP could give us more room to sign other players.
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Ridiculous move if it happens. Why weaken the LB position and in turn help bloody Newcastle? Keep the squad together!
16 games left and have Young and possibly Mings at a stretch can cover LB. Loan makes no sense for us though. Permanent deal only.
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I'd keep him whether he wants to go or not. The longer the Newcastle 'project' is delayed the better for clubs like us trying to claw our way up.
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We should only be selling him if the Hickey deal gets sorted.
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I'd keep him whether he wants to go or not. The longer the Newcastle 'project' is delayed the better for clubs like us trying to claw our way up.
I agree, so much for the prem clubs supposedly agreeing no to sell to them.
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According to Sky he is on his way to Newcastle - hopefully at the end of the season he gets a permanent move as Steven obviously does not rate him that highly
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I'd keep him whether he wants to go or not. The longer the Newcastle 'project' is delayed the better for clubs like us trying to claw our way up.
I agree, so much for the prem clubs supposedly agreeing no to sell to them.
In whose interest would this really be though? Currently the top 3 are so far ahead that the rest of are effectively chasing one Champions League place. Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool rarely lose to anyone other than each other, so for clubs like us wouldn't it be better for there to be a bit more competition and bring them back closer to the pack? Let's face it, we have spent more on players than practically everyone else in the last 2-3 years, and we haven't got anywhere near as yet - I don't think a bit of additional competition for everyone would be that bad a thing for us.
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That Romano bloke on Twitter (the real one who seems to get most things right) has said Targett is heading up for a medical. Doesn't say whether loan or permanent.
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Seems a bit unnecessary. I thought we were building a squad with genuine competition?
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I thought we would be a bit more shrewd than this.
We were top of the chasing pack in 2009. Then Man City got bought and started buying our best players and we gave up.
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In whose interest would this really be though? Currently the top 3 are so far ahead that the rest of are effectively chasing one Champions League place. Man City, Chelsea and Liverpool rarely lose to anyone other than each other, so for clubs like us wouldn't it be better for there to be a bit more competition and bring them back closer to the pack? Let's face it, we have spent more on players than practically everyone else in the last 2-3 years, and we haven't got anywhere near as yet - I don't think a bit of additional competition for everyone would be that bad a thing for us.
Sorry Pat I don't agree. If/when they stay up they're going to make Man City look like paupers. It'll maybe take a year or so and a proper manager, but they'll be top 4 sooner rather than later. They'll be nailed on with Man City, Liverpool and Chelsea I reckon. It'd be much better if they went down this season, as it would obviously delay things for them.
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That Romano bloke on Twitter (the real one who seems to get most things right) has said Targett is heading up for a medical. Doesn't say whether loan or permanent.
It would be a joke if it is to be a loan. It's not as if they are short of a few quid is it?
Rinse the bastards for every penny we can get.
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Targett isn't one of our best players though, is he? There's a big difference in that we're selling on our terms, and would probably end up getting twice what anyone else was willing to pay.
You're not going to hold them down by creating a football wide transfer embargo on them, they will buy new players and improve, but I think the best way to hold them back is probably rinsing them for average players and tying up their FFP for a few years as a result
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Makes it more likely they will stay up and then start building a top four side and they will come knockings for our best.
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That Romano bloke on Twitter (the real one who seems to get most things right) has said Targett is heading up for a medical. Doesn't say whether loan or permanent.
It would be a joke if it is to be a loan. It's not as if they are short of a few quid is it?
Rinse the bastards for every penny we can get.
People seem to be assuming that loan equals no fee. It doesn't. They're likely paying over the odds for a four month loan and then in the summer if he has impressed we'll make more money off them.
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I wouldn't loan him to Newcastle. People may not rate him but he's a competent Premiership standard fullback which is better than they've got. Weakens us squadwise at the same time, so unless this is to enable us to get the fabled DM, its a no for me.
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We’ve upgraded, let them take our droppings. He doesn’t really strengthen them. He misses Joe far more than he should as he was good last season but we’ve moved on. Sell him, don’t loan him though!
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A loan would be a real head scratcher...
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Makes it more likely they will stay up and then start building a top four side and they will come knockings for our best.
We could refuse on principle and they'd stay up anyway, which I think is likely. Then we're left with a surplus fullback that we sell onto someone else fir a lot less, and still have them to deal with.
Don't be frightened of them, be smarter than them and fleece the fuckers for whatever you can. Their existence is a blight, but there's bugger all we can do about that now, so make it work for us.
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Strategically awful decision IMO
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Makes it more likely they will stay up and then start building a top four side and they will come knockings for our best.
We could refuse on principle and they'd stay up anyway, which I think is likely. Then we're left with a surplus fullback that we sell onto someone else fir a lot less, and still have them to deal with.
Don't be frightened of them, be smarter than them and fleece the fuckers for whatever you can. Their existence is a blight, but there's bugger all we can do about that now, so make it work for us.
First Chelsea, then Man City and now them. Each one a disaster for us imho.
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I wouldn't loan him to Newcastle. People may not rate him but he's a competent Premiership standard fullback which is better than they've got. Weakens us squadwise at the same time, so unless this is to enable us to get the fabled DM, its a no for me.
Maybe they've agreed a big loan fee and a high option to buy in the summer, in some kind of FFP administration whizz that really suits us, so we've looked and thought yeah, that works for us.
If the club have got an eye on that lad from Bologna as well, it might suit us very well indeed.
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I would rather keep Matt on board. What if Digne gets injured? Or is crap? This would weaken our squad for me.
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That Romano bloke on Twitter (the real one who seems to get most things right) has said Targett is heading up for a medical. Doesn't say whether loan or permanent.
It would be a joke if it is to be a loan. It's not as if they are short of a few quid is it?
Rinse the bastards for every penny we can get.
People seem to be assuming that loan equals no fee. It doesn't. They're likely paying over the odds for a four month loan and then in the summer if he has impressed we'll make more money off them.
Why give them the opportunity to find out if he will impress or not?
We are the ones taking risk that he will be successful. If it doesn't work out for him they send him back. He comes back to us with a value now lower than for what we would get selling in January.
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I suppose I'm fairly relaxed about selling them Targett. He's an honest pro, but that's about it. But loaning him is weird, unless as others have said it's a FFP thing or they have another player coming in today as left back.
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No loan, no loan with option to buy. Straight up desperation cash or fuck off. I'd rather have an unhappy player ,in this case, sitting on the bench until the summer than give these a hand up. Bastard, topless , ten bellied Keegan fantasisers.
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I wouldn't loan him to Newcastle. People may not rate him but he's a competent Premiership standard fullback which is better than they've got. Weakens us squadwise at the same time, so unless this is to enable us to get the fabled DM, its a no for me.
Maybe they've agreed a big loan fee and a high option to buy in the summer, in some kind of FFP administration whizz that really suits us, so we've looked and thought yeah, that works for us.
If the club have got an eye on that lad from Bologna as well, it might suit us very well indeed.
Of course, and I don't have a problem with upgrading/replacing players if the cover is there, but at the moment we're just exchanging Targett and no-one for Digne and no-one.
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Bastard, topless , ten bellied Keegan fantasisers.
LOL....
UTV
The Doc
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Tricky one this is. If he wants to go and at an over his value price then let him go I say. If Newcastle stay up then they’ll be setting their sights on better than Target next season. I’d like to keep him as back up mind.
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Cashley Young bombing up and down those wings when Digne gets injured is no problem.
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I wouldn't loan him to Newcastle. People may not rate him but he's a competent Premiership standard fullback which is better than they've got. Weakens us squadwise at the same time, so unless this is to enable us to get the fabled DM, its a no for me.
Maybe they've agreed a big loan fee and a high option to buy in the summer, in some kind of FFP administration whizz that really suits us, so we've looked and thought yeah, that works for us.
If the club have got an eye on that lad from Bologna as well, it might suit us very well indeed.
Of course, and I don't have a problem with upgrading/replacing players if the cover is there, but at the moment we're just exchanging Targett and no-one for Digne and no-one.
There is cover though in Young and Mings/Hause - it might not be ideal, but we have only got 16 games left to play this season so our second choice left-back might well not play again. Getting in Hickey to challenge Digne would be good as he will probably be much happier to get the 8-10 games a second choice left-back will probably get playing for us. Until we get into Europe we have to accept that it is not going to be easy having 2 potential first choice players in every position, because good players want/need to be playing regularly.
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Well that's where we have to sell the vision or it will be a self fulfilling prophecy of failure. You need squad depth to break the top 6/7, if we're saying you cant get squad depth without being top 6/7 then we'll just go round and round in circles finishing 9-14th every year and having to replace our better players with ones who want Europe every 2nd season or so.
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I think you have issues wherever your standing is in the game if you take a regular starter, buy a replacement and then relegate them to the bench overnight.
In an ideal world you want the squad players behind the first team to be younger, good enough to play when required, but with scope to improve and eventually make the position their own.
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I wouldn't loan him to Newcastle. People may not rate him but he's a competent Premiership standard fullback which is better than they've got. Weakens us squadwise at the same time, so unless this is to enable us to get the fabled DM, its a no for me.
Maybe they've agreed a big loan fee and a high option to buy in the summer, in some kind of FFP administration whizz that really suits us, so we've looked and thought yeah, that works for us.
If the club have got an eye on that lad from Bologna as well, it might suit us very well indeed.
Of course, and I don't have a problem with upgrading/replacing players if the cover is there, but at the moment we're just exchanging Targett and no-one for Digne and no-one.
There is cover though in Young and Mings/Hause - it might not be ideal, but we have only got 16 games left to play this season so our second choice left-back might well not play again. Getting in Hickey to challenge Digne would be good as he will probably be much happier to get the 8-10 games a second choice left-back will probably get playing for us. Until we get into Europe we have to accept that it is not going to be easy having 2 potential first choice players in every position, because good players want/need to be playing regularly.
Well isn't that the idea this season? Grab a lower European place? If we're just marking time to the summer then Phil seems a bit pointless because he will want to be in a team that challenges for Europe and if he does well he'll have that option with other clubs who can come in. Yes Digne could go the rest of the season without an injury but I've seen that argument on here every August and then someone gets crocked and it's "we have shit cover!"
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Thinking about it, whilst I like him, he's not a top 4/6 player. Which means whilst Newcastle will have improved, we've already upgraded, and we'll get money to assist in other areas and they will have to buy again to get into the top echelons of the league.
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Whilst I've been advocating the deal, it is of course crushingly inevitable that the minute he's gone Digne will be injured for a significant length of time.
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Whilst I've been advocating the deal, it is of course crushingly inevitable that the minute he's gone Digne will be injured for a significant length of time.
And that's the issue really. Gerrard has said a few times now that he wants top level competition for every place. If we're left with Digne, we hven't got that any more, and it's the first position which he specifically strengthened. We've probably got enough cover there for now in Ashley Young, but it would be a bit of a strange one. Unless he just doesn't rate Targett at all.
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I've no issue with Targett leaving as long as a replacement is lined up first. Most teams operate this way. To just bomb him out of the squad is reckless if no player is incoming. That LB position looks strong at present - why would you weaken it?
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It does make sense if Hickey is lined up as then we would have a current first choicer in Digne, with a backup with much more potential than Targett.
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Cash could maybe play there too? If Digne got injured then Chambers RB and Cash LB?
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Cash could maybe play there too? If Digne got injured then Chambers RB and Cash LB?
I don't want chambers anywhere near the right-back position. *shudders*
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Obviously if Hickey is being lined up then I'll drive Targett up there myself. Insert David O'Leary term of endearment of your choice.
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Whilst I've been advocating the deal, it is of course crushingly inevitable that the minute he's gone Digne will be injured for a significant length of time.
And that's the issue really. Gerrard has said a few times now that he wants top level competition for every place. If we're left with Digne, we hven't got that any more, and it's the first position which he specifically strengthened. We've probably got enough cover there for now in Ashley Young, but it would be a bit of a strange one. Unless he just doesn't rate Targett at all.
The offer from Newcastle might be too generous to turn down, especially if the club feel Targett's value will only depreciate as a back-up left-back. If FFP is an issue, you can understand the reasoning.
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I don't think Targett's good enough for where we want to be, but I baulk at the idea of helping out the Saudi scumbags.
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Cash could maybe play there too? If Digne got injured then Chambers RB and Cash LB?
In Gerrard's formation, the full backs have to provide the width and cover the length of the pitch. It's a specialised position and you can't just put someone in who's provided cover at right back for his previous club (that doesn't use the same tactics) and not expect to lose something.
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Hm!
Breaking: Newcastle now have a loan deal in place for Aston Villa left-back Matt Targett
https://twitter.com/CraigHope_DM/status/1488074276683096065?s=20&t=jwFmG5rxZL9KwJzJQCvKEQ
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Mings can play there at a push
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Weird one for me. Don't see what we gain from it apart from a loan fee.
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Weird one for me. Don't see what we gain from it apart from a loan fee.
Perhaps we don't have a player in the squad who is unhappy as he won't get any game time.
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Weird one for me. Don't see what we gain from it apart from a loan fee.
Perhaps we don't have a player in the squad who is unhappy as he won't get any game time.
Part of being a club challenging for Europe. If you've got a squad of happy players content to sit in the reserves you're basically us under Lambert/Sherwood/etc..
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Weird one for me. Don't see what we gain from it apart from a loan fee.
Depends on the terms of the loan, I suppose. Hopefully it's one of those loan-with-an-obligation-to-buy jobs where they pay us £5m for the right to forcibly pay an inflated fee for him in the summer regardless of how good or useless he is for them.
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Weird one for me. Don't see what we gain from it apart from a loan fee.
Depends on the terms of the loan, I suppose. Hopefully it's one of those loan-with-an-obligation-to-buy jobs where they pay us £5m for the right to forcibly pay an inflated fee for him in the summer regardless of how good or useless he is for them.
yeah, I can't imagine anyone would be planning on building a PL challenging team by purchasing Targett in the summer though. He's a decent fullback, much better than he gets credit for on here, but you'd think they'd be looking for better if they stay up.
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Shame, don't want to be helping that lot stay up.
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It would be funny if they spent a fortune and still went down though.
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Supposedly we are trying to get Newcastle to buy Targett when the season ends as part of the loan deal
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Mings can play there at a push
There was a clip Match of the Day showed from the Everton game and they froze it as we were breaking forward. The most advanced Villa player was Digne, followed by Watkins, followed by Cash. In Gerrard's system, full backs are not defenders.
I dread to think what would happen if we tried Mings there! We'd be better off playing Bailey or Trez there.
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Hause played a few games at left back under Smith.
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Mings can play there at a push
There was a clip Match of the Day showed from the Everton game and they froze it as we were breaking forward. The most advanced Villa player was Digne, followed by Watkins, followed by Cash. In Gerrard's system, full backs are not defenders.
I dread to think what would happen if we tried Mings there! We'd be better off playing Bailey or Trez there.
I've never seen Targett dance between two opponents like Mings did for the first against Man Utd.
The fear I'd have with him is that he'd get too carried away with rampaging up the left wing and forget to defend.
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I'd normally wish players good luck when moving on, particulalry ones like Targett who have been good servants to the club.
Not this time I'm afraid Matt. Hope your disgusting new club loses every match, gets relegated and done for FFP.
Cheers.
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Hause played a few games at left back under Smith.
Never again, thanks. His feet are too poor.
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Hause played a few games at left back under Smith.
Never again, thanks. His feet are too poor.
Not how I recall it. If memory serves he was surprisingly ace at left back. I'd check the post match threads but no idea what games he played there.
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Hause played a few games at left back under Smith.
Never again, thanks. His feet are too poor.
Not how I recall it. If memory serves he was surprisingly ace at left back. I'd check the post match threads but no idea what games he played there.
Yes, but as others have said, Gerrard isn't playing Digne as a left-back. He's more like Trent at Liverpool.
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I think we are seeing Gerrard’s ruthless side. He knows he’s not good enough for where he wants to go and has quietly got shot when the opportunity came along
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I think we are seeing Gerrard’s ruthless side. He knows he’s not good enough for where he wants to go and has quietly got shot when the opportunity came along
But it leaves the defence that bit weaker with less options. Don't agree with this decision at all.
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Hause played a few games at left back under Smith.
Never again, thanks. His feet are too poor.
Not how I recall it. If memory serves he was surprisingly ace at left back. I'd check the post match threads but no idea what games he played there.
He was terrible. I have never seen a worse performance at a left or right back than his against Man City at home in the 6-1 drubbing. Tbf, the whole team was a complete shambles (El Ghazi was the striker and Drinkwater played - enough said), but Hause was perpetually abused that day.
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Hause played a few games at left back under Smith.
Never again, thanks. His feet are too poor.
Not how I recall it. If memory serves he was surprisingly ace at left back. I'd check the post match threads but no idea what games he played there.
Not how I recall it either. He played LB a couple of times and did very well. TBF it was different times and possibly a needs must situation but he didn’t let himself or the team down as I recall.
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I really don't want to be helping Newcastle at all. I'm desperate for them to go down.
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Seems an odd move, without knowing any of the details. Who comes in if Digne gets injured? I thought the plan was competition for every position. I wouldn’t say that Targett’s form has regressed to the degree where he couldn’t be considered adequate back-up if Digne’s not fit to play.
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They aren't going down. Whether they signed Targett or not, he's not going to be in any way the deciding factor. They will be good enough to stay up with what they had and what they bought prior to today. I'm more interested in us. I'd rather not leave us exposed at LB, and I'll be interested to hear why we are loaning him out?
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Seems an odd move, without knowing any of the details. Who comes in if Digne gets injured? I thought the plan was competition for every position. I wouldn’t say that Targett’s form has regressed to the degree where he couldn’t be considered adequate back-up if Digne’s not fit to play.
It's not that though, it's having serious offers for players that are no longer first choice, and whether we like or not, we have to balance the books to some degree. Sure, you might have others you'd sooner sell but there's nobody in for them.
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They will be good enough to stay up with what they had and what they bought prior to today.
Don't agree with this at all. They were an utter shambles.
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Seems an odd move, without knowing any of the details. Who comes in if Digne gets injured? I thought the plan was competition for every position. I wouldn’t say that Targett’s form has regressed to the degree where he couldn’t be considered adequate back-up if Digne’s not fit to play.
It's not that though, it's having serious offers for players that are no longer first choice, and whether we like or not, we have to balance the books to some degree. Sure, you might have others you'd sooner sell but there's nobody in for them.
might have missed something, but I read it was a loan deal. Must they sign him permanently in the summer?
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Seems an odd move, without knowing any of the details. Who comes in if Digne gets injured? I thought the plan was competition for every position. I wouldn’t say that Targett’s form has regressed to the degree where he couldn’t be considered adequate back-up if Digne’s not fit to play.
It's not that though, it's having serious offers for players that are no longer first choice, and whether we like or not, we have to balance the books to some degree. Sure, you might have others you'd sooner sell but there's nobody in for them.
might have missed something, but I read it was a loan deal. Must they sign him permanently in the summer?
I reckon that a swizz to get his fee on next year's accounts.
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They will be good enough to stay up with what they had and what they bought prior to today.
Don't agree with this at all. They were an utter shambles.
They are unbeaten in their last three league games having won away at Newcastle in their last one. Prior to that they played Leicester, Liverpool and Man City. Hardly easy.
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I really don't want to be helping Newcastle at all. I'm desperate for them to go down.
Totally agree with this. All we've been hearing is how much money they have, then we go and loan them a player. If they have so much cash, make them buy him. Nobody should be loaning the arseholes players.
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They will be good enough to stay up with what they had and what they bought prior to today.
Don't agree with this at all. They were an utter shambles.
They are unbeaten in their last three league games having won away at Newcastle in their last one. Prior to that they played Leicester, Liverpool and Man City. Hardly easy.
It’s bloody outrageous that they’re allowed to play against themselves.
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They will be good enough to stay up with what they had and what they bought prior to today.
Don't agree with this at all. They were an utter shambles.
They are unbeaten in their last three league games having won away at Newcastle in their last one. Prior to that they played Leicester, Liverpool and Man City. Hardly easy.
It’s bloody outrageous that they’re allowed to play against themselves.
ha, they nearly lost that one also. I meant Leeds of course.
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They will be good enough to stay up with what they had and what they bought prior to today.
Don't agree with this at all. They were an utter shambles.
They are unbeaten in their last three league games having won away at Newcastle in their last one. Prior to that they played Leicester, Liverpool and Man City. Hardly easy.
Norwich have done well lately too but I still think they're going down.
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I really don't want to be helping Newcastle at all. I'm desperate for them to go down.
Totally agree with this. All we've been hearing is how much money they have, then we go and loan them a player. If they have so much cash, make them buy him. Nobody should be loaning the arseholes players.
Yep. They're going to be big rivals to us over the coming years. We shouldn't be making oit easier for them.
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They will be good enough to stay up with what they had and what they bought prior to today.
Don't agree with this at all. They were an utter shambles.
They are unbeaten in their last three league games having won away at Newcastle in their last one. Prior to that they played Leicester, Liverpool and Man City. Hardly easy.
Norwich have done well lately too but I still think they're going down.
Again, signing Matt Targett isn't making the difference. He's hardly Maldini. He's an average PL very defensive LB. A solid back up
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In all fairness Leeds should have won that one by a cricket score.
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They will be good enough to stay up with what they had and what they bought prior to today.
Don't agree with this at all. They were an utter shambles.
They are unbeaten in their last three league games having won away at Newcastle in their last one. Prior to that they played Leicester, Liverpool and Man City. Hardly easy.
It’s bloody outrageous that they’re allowed to play against themselves.
ha, they nearly lost that one also. I meant Leeds of course.
In their last home game, against Watford before Ranieri was sacked, Newcastle were wretched and drew 1-1. Watford were the better team.
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Hause played a few games at left back under Smith.
Never again, thanks. His feet are too poor.
Not how I recall it. If memory serves he was surprisingly ace at left back. I'd check the post match threads but no idea what games he played there.
Not how I recall it either. He played LB a couple of times and did very well. TBF it was different times and possibly a needs must situation but he didn’t let himself or the team down as I recall.
I'm guessing one of the games must have been against Wolves where no doubt Targett threw a sickie knowing he was up against Traore.
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has he actually gone....
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Up there having a medical
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Hause played a few games at left back under Smith.
Never again, thanks. His feet are too poor.
Not how I recall it. If memory serves he was surprisingly ace at left back. I'd check the post match threads but no idea what games he played there.
Not how I recall it either. He played LB a couple of times and did very well. TBF it was different times and possibly a needs must situation but he didn’t let himself or the team down as I recall.
I'm guessing one of the games must have been against Wolves where no doubt Targett threw a sickie knowing he was up against Traore.
Hause debut was it at Brentford? He was bloody awful at LB
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Wigan lost 3-0 didn't we? I would sooner see Chisene play there than Hause I think.... Or indeed play Mings there. He did actually play left back for 2-3 years.
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Very strange one for me. Not sure why we're helping Newcastle. They're currently below us but could very quickly go past us if they stay up with the spending they could do. I'd have thought we'd want to delay that for as long as possible. Especially giving them a loan rather than rinsing them.
Targett isn't backing himself to get back into the team either. Digne's only played 2 games. It's not as though Targett has been sat on the bench for months.
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Sorry if this has been mentioned already but there is one more benefit of this as it is a loan, he can't play against us in a couple of weeks. If they signed a left back elsewhere that would marginally improve them when they play us. I know it's only one game but he will be there to improve Newcastle when they play all our competitors.
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I would have liked to have kept him.
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Can Chambers cover LB?
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Ash Young can.
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I really like Targett, he’s a very good defender but obviously not suited to the role we want. It’s a shame but a victim of our new style of play. He’s a great pro and probably just wants to play football. It’s a pity he’s going to a shit club like Newcastle, however I do wish him all the best….
in taking them down before winning player of the year to help seal a decent big money transfer to a nicer club.
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We should have taken him out on a massive, slap up leaving meal. Given his issues in the past getting up to full speed, that would have probably rendered him useless until late March, by which time it would hopefully be too late for them.
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I note his medical is taking the time needed for a Matt Targett medical
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Now official.
Erm…good luck Matty…I think
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Few ways to look at what could be Targetts reason for leaving:
He may realise he's second best at LB at Villa now.
He's pissed off for being replaced.
He wants to play first team Football.
He's sulking and doesn't want to be at Villa any more.
Could be one, or more than one of those. We've got a better player now in Digne so this move doesn't surprise me.
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Don't get this one at all. I like him, he seems a really down to earth, nice guy. I hope he plays well and enjoys himself, and Newcastle still go down.
If they stay up they'll probably be after the similar range/level of players as us, so us helping them do that seems very odd.
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Not happy with this, never really been convinced by Targett if I'm honest and i'm happy that we've upgraded him with Digne. What I'm not happy with is how he has gone there. They're desperate for players, they've got a stupid amount of money so why loan him to them to help them stay up? If they want him, we charge them £20m or something silly. I'm not convinced this deal helps Villa particularly - unless of course there is an agreement in place for a replacement.
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On Mr Gerrard's head be it. Lets hope it doesn't come back to haunt him if we pick up injuries.
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Any mention of a loan fee? Newcastle will stay up and buy Bissouma, and I'll wet my pants and cry.
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Doesn’t make much sense to me. Would have done in the summer.
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We will have fleeced them for a loan fee, and we'll get more in the summer if we still want to sell him.
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Gerrard - "Ok, you can have Targett on loan, on the condition that you don't go in for Bousouma in the summer"
?
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Baffled by this. I don't get why we're helping out a club who will be a big threat if they manage to stay up. Plus we've just had a poor run of results. Another one could easily drag us back into trouble
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I wish Matt Targett well he's been a solid player for Villa in his time at the club. That said I do not wish nufc well at all and I hope they finish the season occupying one of the 3 relegation places.
Last season's players player of the year surplus to requirements at VP. Who would have thought that? I'd rather it was the 36 year old Young that has made way instead of the 26 year old Targett.
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apparently no buy option. So we must see him as part of our future and I imagine we are gouging Newcastle at the same time.
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I just hope we have included a clause that he has to come back alive or at least with all his limbs intact if they get relegated.
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apparently no buy option. So we must see him as part of our future and I imagine we are gouging Newcastle at the same time.
Gouge Away
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From Targett's comments it doesn't sound like he was pushing for the move so I can only think that Gerrard really doesn't rate him very highly.
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My guess is Gerrard likes the Andy Robertson/TAA type of full back. Which Matty ain’t.
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I guess if we make it into Europe he would get more games, so maybe that is the plan longer term.
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My guess is Gerrard likes the Andy Robertson/TAA type of full-back. Which Matty ain’t.
That's my take, too. Our full-backs are now absolutely integral to our attack.
But, Matt has proven himself to be very adept at playing a more traditional left-back role behind a mercurial left-sided attacker, and Newcastle have Saint-Maximin on the left, so it's a move that makes sense from their perspective. I suspect they'll simply say to him "Go out there and do for Allan what you did for Jack"
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It's a strange one this. What happens if Digne gets crocked in the next game or so. What cover have we? Very strange indeed.
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Young ?
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It's a strange one this. What happens if Digne gets crocked in the next game or so. What cover have we? Very strange indeed.
I agree with this. Not going to pretend that Targett is a world-beater and Digne is certainly an upgrade but I'm unclear as to why a four month loan deal to Newcastle is beneficial to us. Targett has been solid enough and seemed as surprised as anyone by the move.
Curious.
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It's a strange one this. What happens if Digne gets crocked in the next game or so. What cover have we? Very strange indeed.
Ashley Young, who won Seria A as a left-back last season. And if Digne AND Young are both injured then we have Hause and Mings who've both played left-back, but would definitely be playing out of position if they were needed there.
I didn't want Targett to go to Newcastle, but it's not like we don't have reasonable cover already down that side. We probably have more left-footed defensive players capable of playing left-back than most premier league clubs.
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Young ?
Gerrard rates Young highly. 16 games left, I guess he can cover Digne for that.
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Of all the good the Football Club have done in recent years there still is some absolutely stupid decisions being made. I don't understand why we are loaning players or doing business at all with Newcastle United.
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Of all the good the Football Club have done in recent years there still is some absolutely stupid decisions being made. I don't understand why we are loaning players or doing business at all with Newcastle United.
Stopped clock, twice a day.
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It's a strange one this. What happens if Digne gets crocked in the next game or so. What cover have we? Very strange indeed.
Ashley Young, who won Seria A as a left-back last season. And if Digne AND Young are both injured then we have Hause and Mings who've both played left-back, but would definitely be playing out of position if they were needed there.
I didn't want Targett to go to Newcastle, but it's not like we don't have reasonable cover already down that side. We probably have more left-footed defensive players capable of playing left-back than most premier league clubs.
Letting him go to Newcastle though makes no sense. They stay up and they become a serious danger to us. Looks like no option for them to buy either.
Newcastle have pulled NSWE's pants down
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Are we that desperate for cash we need to loan players to NEWCASTLE to cover some wages? Tell them to buy the player or go away and Targett can fight for his position!!
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Guessing he didn’t want to stay and fight for his place. Shame.
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Of all the good the Football Club have done in recent years there still is some absolutely stupid decisions being made. I don't understand why we are loaning players or doing business at all with Newcastle United.
We sold Grealish to the Abu Dhabi sportswashing plc in the summer. The 4th previous captain we sold to them in recent seasons. Not doing business with Newcastle would seem a bit self defeating.
Best of luck to Matt Targett. Good signing by Newcastle, certainly a lot better than likes of Richie and Dummett. Might go on to prove Gerrard wrong I suspect.
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Xia cashed-in on the Ciaran Clark instalment money cos he/we were brassick with a VAT bill overdue. Someone in Villa's finance dept. remembers that, hates the Barcodes and has pushed for this ;)
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It's a strange one this. What happens if Digne gets crocked in the next game or so. What cover have we? Very strange indeed.
Ashley Young, who won Seria A as a left-back last season. And if Digne AND Young are both injured then we have Hause and Mings who've both played left-back, but would definitely be playing out of position if they were needed there.
I didn't want Targett to go to Newcastle, but it's not like we don't have reasonable cover already down that side. We probably have more left-footed defensive players capable of playing left-back than most premier league clubs.
Letting him go to Newcastle though makes no sense. They stay up and they become a serious danger to us. Looks like no option for them to buy either.
Newcastle have pulled NSWE's pants down
Targett did well for us last season but even if....they stay up, they won't be challenging us next season on the basis of having Matt Targett let's be honest. Newcastle have signed likes of Trippier, Burn, Targett, Wood....all for a relegation battle. Decent signings in truth for where they are.
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No, in fact Digne has Unsworthed us, he wants to go back to Everton. He's always been a massive fan of Lampard, the timing of his runs and his Conservative beliefs.
It will have to wait until the summer though, so we lent Matt out to keep him fit in the meantime.
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I like Targett - good player, hope he does dreadfully for Newcastle though.
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From Targett's comments it doesn't sound like he was pushing for the move so I can only think that Gerrard really doesn't rate him very highly.
What's he said?
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I think it's impressive that we are loaning players to other first division teams.
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Agent Targett
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It's a strange one this. What happens if Digne gets crocked in the next game or so. What cover have we? Very strange indeed.
Ashley Young, who won Seria A as a left-back last season. And if Digne AND Young are both injured then we have Hause and Mings who've both played left-back, but would definitely be playing out of position if they were needed there.
I didn't want Targett to go to Newcastle, but it's not like we don't have reasonable cover already down that side. We probably have more left-footed defensive players capable of playing left-back than most premier league clubs.
Letting him go to Newcastle though makes no sense. They stay up and they become a serious danger to us. Looks like no option for them to buy either.
Newcastle have pulled NSWE's pants down
Targett did well for us last season but even if....they stay up, they won't be challenging us next season on the basis of having Matt Targett let's be honest. Newcastle have signed likes of Trippier, Burn, Targett, Wood....all for a relegation battle. Decent signings in truth for where they are.
Exactly the conversation i had with my sob. Other than Trippier whose a bit classier to be fair, battle hardened lower half premier leaguers.
No dis respect to Targett, i like him and its s shame he’s gone, but whikst its only been two games, Digne looks a different level.
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Guessing he didn’t want to stay and fight for his place. Shame.
Or probably just wants to play football and he sees Newcastle as an opportunity to play regularly.
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Targett going means in comparison with the start of the window we have Digne instead of Targett.
We've improved the team. We'll save a couple of million quid in wagesnon a player that you'd hope wouldn't need to play much.
I wish him all the best, and them all the worst.
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Would have preferred to keep Targett as cover for Digne. I like him. Good luck though.
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How long till Digne gets injured.
It's bound to happen now.
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Would have preferred to keep Targett as cover for Digne. I like him. Good luck though.
Yes we shouldn't be helping their owners stave off relegation even if we save some money.
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It's not a loan that makes much sense from our perspective.
Newcastle are going to be a rival, and will probably surpass us at some point. If they get relegated, this will put that off for at least a couple of seasons.
We shouldn't be helping them to stay up. In fact, no other PL club should be helping them, unless they're paying an extortionate price.
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Targett obviously engineered the move. Why else would we let him go. If that's what he wants, so be it.
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Hause played a few games at left back under Smith.
Never again, thanks. His feet are too poor.
Not how I recall it. If memory serves he was surprisingly ace at left back. I'd check the post match threads but no idea what games he played there.
I’m sure he mainly played there when he first joined, including absolute shambolic performances at Wigan and Brentford. He was described on here as a ‘Great Dane chasing a balloon’ which is one of the funniest lines I’ve ever seen on here!
He’s improved since then of course but he’s rarely been at left back in the premier league.
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Not sure he engineered the move from what he has said about the speed with which it happens but who knows?
Targett was fantastic last season and showed incredible consistency, remaining one of our best players not matter what form the team was in.
He has still been good this season, even if his level dropped a bit. But he doesn't fit the Gerrard profile and for all those questioning why he didn't stay and fight for his place, he will know he isn't what Gerrard is after at full back and barring a spectacularly shite set of performances from Digne, he won't play. Let's face it, if Digne missed a couple of games and Targett came in and gave a couple of 8/10 performances, it's likely Digne would still be back in the team the following week.
Whether 'Tigs' comes back to us or leaves permanently, he is another player who has contributed plenty to our renaissance and the team's reconnection with the fan base.
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How long till Digne gets injured.
It's bound to happen now.
This is the way….
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I'd be far more convinced if you or anybody else you provide the evidence. I recall he surprised a few, myself included with some more than decent performances at left back. That said, that was some time back. I don't want him there again.
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I didn't like this to start with, but the more I think about it the more sense it makes... as others have said, we have adequate backup. Targett plays most of the rest of the season, returns to Villa in the summer. If (big if) we make Europe, we have a player who can be rotated with Digne to deal with fixture congestion. If not, we have a player whose value has been maintained & we can still sell for decent money.
Consider the alternative - he probably doesn't play for the next 6 months, then either we're left with a rusty backup for Europe/Cups next season or he gets sold for a lower value in the summer.
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Like it or not, clubs are going to have to deal with Newcastle in the same way we have always had to deal with Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd etc. Anyone who thinks that Premier League clubs are going to operate some self-imposed embargo is deluding themselves. The only ones who an embargo on Newcastle would favour are those sides already established in the top 4/6. We are currently only chasing one spot in the top 4 given how far clear Liverpool, City and Chelsea are - bringing one or more of them back into the pack could help us, and to do that there needs to be more sides capable of beating them in the league.
I really don't see how letting them have Matt Targett on loan (and presumably we are getting a substantial fee out of it) is a problem. He is out of favour, we have an upgraded our first choice and have other suitable back up options for the limited number of games we have left - don't forget, Ashley Young was preferred to him at left-back earlier in the season anyway.
In fact, given that it was probably 50/50 at best for them to get relegated even without Matt Targett, you could argue that we are doing ourselves a favour by letting them strengthen right now. To get into Europe this season (which is key to us attracting and retaining a stronger overall squad) we need to finish at least 7th. Given the state of the league table, that means we need quite a lot of teams to start losing games they would expect to win. It would do us no harm at all if Newcastle suddenly started taking points of the likes of Wolves, Brighton, West Ham, Leicester etc.
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I didn't like this to start with, but the more I think about it the more sense it makes... as others have said, we have adequate backup. Targett plays most of the rest of the season, returns to Villa in the summer. If (big if) we make Europe, we have a player who can be rotated with Digne to deal with fixture congestion. If not, we have a player whose value has been maintained & we can still sell for decent money.
Consider the alternative - he probably doesn't play for the next 6 months, then either we're left with a rusty backup for Europe/Cups next season or he gets sold for a lower value in the summer.
This is a very sensible comment - for someone with only 40 posts you should perhaps post more often!
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I didn't like this to start with, but the more I think about it the more sense it makes... as others have said, we have adequate backup. Targett plays most of the rest of the season, returns to Villa in the summer. If (big if) we make Europe, we have a player who can be rotated with Digne to deal with fixture congestion. If not, we have a player whose value has been maintained & we can still sell for decent money.
Consider the alternative - he probably doesn't play for the next 6 months, then either we're left with a rusty backup for Europe/Cups next season or he gets sold for a lower value in the summer.
This is a very sensible comment - for someone with only 40 posts you should perhaps post more often!
He shouldn’t be using his Banking app password as his username though
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There is this assumption also that Newcastle will immeditely propel themselves from being shit to top 4. That's not the way it works. They will be able to buy some good players in the summer if they stay up but it doesn't guarantee anything. Man City went through a number of manager changes before they finally won the PL. And churned through many, many players. And it's not like the other teams in the top half are skint. Every team now can compete for top level footballers. Man City and before them Chelsea had a very distinct advantage back when they did it because the money they brought to the game far exceed much of what any of us saw prior to that. Newcastle won't have it that easy.
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There is this assumption also that Newcastle will immeditely propel themselves from being shit to top 4. That's not the way it works. They will be able to buy some good players in the summer if they stay up but it doesn't guarantee anything. Man City went through a number of manager changes before they finally won the PL. And churned through many, many players. And it's not like the other teams in the top half are skint. Every team now can compete for top level footballers. Man City and before them Chelsea had a very distinct advantage back when they did it because the money they brought to the game far exceed much of what any of us saw prior to that. Newcastle won't have it that easy.
Precisely, rich owners is nowhere near the instant advantage it was when Chelsea and City were first bought. FFP put paid to that. And pretty much every loophole to inject cash has been closed due to the attempts by the likes of City and PSG in trying to exploit them.
Newcastle will max out their losses, and spend similar amounts to ourselves when we first came up, but this idea that they're going to instantly fill their team with superstars earning £200k a week and be challenging for the top four is nonsense. If they do it right, they'll be competitive in two or three years, definitely. But like us, they have to replace almost an entire squad, and that's not going to happen in a season.
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Like it or not, clubs are going to have to deal with Newcastle in the same way we have always had to deal with Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd etc. Anyone who thinks that Premier League clubs are going to operate some self-imposed embargo is deluding themselves. The only ones who an embargo on Newcastle would favour are those sides already established in the top 4/6. We are currently only chasing one spot in the top 4 given how far clear Liverpool, City and Chelsea are - bringing one or more of them back into the pack could help us, and to do that there needs to be more sides capable of beating them in the league.
I really don't see how letting them have Matt Targett on loan (and presumably we are getting a substantial fee out of it) is a problem. He is out of favour, we have an upgraded our first choice and have other suitable back up options for the limited number of games we have left - don't forget, Ashley Young was preferred to him at left-back earlier in the season anyway.
In fact, given that it was probably 50/50 at best for them to get relegated even without Matt Targett, you could argue that we are doing ourselves a favour by letting them strengthen right now. To get into Europe this season (which is key to us attracting and retaining a stronger overall squad) we need to finish at least 7th. Given the state of the league table, that means we need quite a lot of teams to start losing games they would expect to win. It would do us no harm at all if Newcastle suddenly started taking points of the likes of Wolves, Brighton, West Ham, Leicester etc.
Some really good points. I agree there is only one place in the top 4 up for grabs in the foreseeable future and Newcastle won’t be grabbing it.
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Like it or not, clubs are going to have to deal with Newcastle in the same way we have always had to deal with Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man Utd etc. Anyone who thinks that Premier League clubs are going to operate some self-imposed embargo is deluding themselves. The only ones who an embargo on Newcastle would favour are those sides already established in the top 4/6. We are currently only chasing one spot in the top 4 given how far clear Liverpool, City and Chelsea are - bringing one or more of them back into the pack could help us, and to do that there needs to be more sides capable of beating them in the league.
I really don't see how letting them have Matt Targett on loan (and presumably we are getting a substantial fee out of it) is a problem. He is out of favour, we have an upgraded our first choice and have other suitable back up options for the limited number of games we have left - don't forget, Ashley Young was preferred to him at left-back earlier in the season anyway.
In fact, given that it was probably 50/50 at best for them to get relegated even without Matt Targett, you could argue that we are doing ourselves a favour by letting them strengthen right now. To get into Europe this season (which is key to us attracting and retaining a stronger overall squad) we need to finish at least 7th. Given the state of the league table, that means we need quite a lot of teams to start losing games they would expect to win. It would do us no harm at all if Newcastle suddenly started taking points of the likes of Wolves, Brighton, West Ham, Leicester etc.
Some really good points. I agree there is only one place in the top 4 up for grabs in the foreseeable future and Newcastle won’t be grabbing it.
I think it's less about ousting someone permanently from the top 4 and more about bloating the top 6 to a top 7. If we (NUFC) can get Champions League football every few years, take advantage of one of the elite clubs having an off season and finish 2nd then we can be proud of that.
However, none of that is happening for a while yet, fucking hell, we've got to try and stay up first. ;D
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There is this assumption also that Newcastle will immeditely propel themselves from being shit to top 4. That's not the way it works. They will be able to buy some good players in the summer if they stay up but it doesn't guarantee anything. Man City went through a number of manager changes before they finally won the PL. And churned through many, many players. And it's not like the other teams in the top half are skint. Every team now can compete for top level footballers. Man City and before them Chelsea had a very distinct advantage back when they did it because the money they brought to the game far exceed much of what any of us saw prior to that. Newcastle won't have it that easy.
Precisely, rich owners is nowhere near the instant advantage it was when Chelsea and City were first bought. FFP put paid to that. And pretty much every loophole to inject cash has been closed due to the attempts by the likes of City and PSG in trying to exploit them.
Newcastle will max out their losses, and spend similar amounts to ourselves when we first came up, but this idea that they're going to instantly fill their team with superstars earning £200k a week and be challenging for the top four is nonsense. If they do it right, they'll be competitive in two or three years, definitely. But like us, they have to replace almost an entire squad, and that's not going to happen in a season.
When we came up we were maxed out on FFP so had to take things in a reasonably measured way. Newcastle have spent virtually nothing in the last few years and prior to Jan had a full FFP allocation. The football finance expert Keiron Maguire estimated they could spend c£800m on transfers over the next 4 years.
If they stay up I'm pretty sure they'll be trying to outbid us for Bissouma in the summer, or whoever the next hot prospect is. Not just transfer fees, but pushing up wages too.
I'd rather a 2 year run at our own push while they fuck around in the championship and first season back up than being in competition with them next season. If Targett contributes to them staying up then I think we will have been very naieve.
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Naive is not a word I'd associate with our setup these days. Whatever your thoughts regarding Targett going to Newcastle, I'm certain the decision wasn't taken lightly or on a whim.
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Best outcome is if he helps them take points off our immediate rivals.
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Best outcome is if he helps them take points off our immediate rivals.
Double edged sword, helps us in the short term if they do this. However they have all but booked themselves a visit to the top of the table with their wealth. If they stay up, they will probably get there before we can.
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Well they certainly will not do it with the likes of Howe in charge, just like city started with Mark Hughes so it will not be an instant path to success as some will think
Unless they move Newcastle to London or the very least the North West they still have to get top players to go there
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Best outcome is if he helps them take points off our immediate rivals.
Double edged sword, helps us in the short term if they do this. However they have all but booked themselves a visit to the top of the table with their wealth. If they stay up, they will probably get there before we can.
The way we've gone about things though, We've a great structure all the way through the club now. Owners, CEO, DoF, Manager, Academy, all taking great strides forward. Our playing staff improve steadily and it's enjoyable watching the whole team now. They are clinging on to their status in the league, and spending good amounts of cash to do that. They won't suddenly be able to attract the top players as they can't offer them the football they crave.
Matt Targett is a solid professional. He's done some good stuff for us and improved a lot, however, he needs someone strong alongside him, which is why he improved with Terry then Mings, vocal leaders. Will he get that at Newcastle?
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From Targett's comments it doesn't sound like he was pushing for the move so I can only think that Gerrard really doesn't rate him very highly.
What's he said?
"FFS! Not the Sid James gaffer! They're a fucking basket-case. Please! Can't I go to Walsall instead?"
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Well they certainly will not do it with the likes of Howe in charge, just like city started with Mark Hughes so it will not be an instant path to success as some will think
Unless they move Newcastle to London or the very least the North West they still have to get top players to go there
Money talks and for the record, the North East isn't some barren post-apocalyptic wasteland.
If we stay up, I wouldn't imagine Howe will be given long if he's not getting the most out of the players we've bought/will buy. But I do like that we haven't just thrown the cash around. We've signed experienced Premier League players to keep us up, plus a really promising young talent. I'd rather we did that than threw money at the modern day equivalent of Robinho. I mean we were linked with Ousmane Dembele, and I'm glad that never happened as he's exactly the kind of player who'd maybe show up for the big games, but shirk his responsibilities away at Burnley. The situation we're in, we need to be picking up points wherever we can.
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Naive is not a word I'd associate with our setup these days. Whatever your thoughts regarding Targett going to Newcastle, I'm certain the decision wasn't taken lightly or on a whim.
I agree with but it takes all sorts. Last night I saw a twenty-something woman on Twitter bemoaning the fact she'd discovered Matt Targett has a girlfriend. I mean seriously, Matt Targett?.
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Naive is not a word I'd associate with our setup these days. Whatever your thoughts regarding Targett going to Newcastle, I'm certain the decision wasn't taken lightly or on a whim.
I agree with but it takes all sorts. Last night I saw a twenty-something woman on Twitter bemoaning the fact she'd discovered Matt Targett has a girlfriend. I mean seriously, Matt Targett?.
I have no idea why the young 20 something woman should be worrying about the millionaire Matt Targett.
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Naive is not a word I'd associate with our setup these days. Whatever your thoughts regarding Targett going to Newcastle, I'm certain the decision wasn't taken lightly or on a whim.
I agree with but it takes all sorts. Last night I saw a twenty-something woman on Twitter bemoaning the fact she'd discovered Matt Targett has a girlfriend. I mean seriously, Matt Targett?.
I have no idea why the young 20 something woman should be worrying about the millionaire Matt Targett.
That Mrs Merton line is so flexible.
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https://twitter.com/greggevans40/status/1491177523581009920
An excellent #NUFC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/NUFC?src=hashtag_click) debut for Matt Targett.
Steven Gerrard says the LB pushed to leave #AVFC (https://twitter.com/hashtag/AVFC?src=hashtag_click) following L.Digne's arrival.
"I preferred to keep him but it’s opened up a pathway for Ben Chrisene and we're really excited about trying to help him become a Prem Lg player."
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Does that mean he's done with him?
And reading about Targett helping Newcastle to win and stay-up...dunno, doesn't sit right.
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Well they certainly will not do it with the likes of Howe in charge, just like city started with Mark Hughes so it will not be an instant path to success as some will think
Unless they move Newcastle to London or the very least the North West they still have to get top players to go there
Money talks and for the record, the North East isn't some barren post-apocalyptic wasteland.
If we stay up, I wouldn't imagine Howe will be given long if he's not getting the most out of the players we've bought/will buy. But I do like that we haven't just thrown the cash around. We've signed experienced Premier League players to keep us up, plus a really promising young talent. I'd rather we did that than threw money at the modern day equivalent of Robinho. I mean we were linked with Ousmane Dembele, and I'm glad that never happened as he's exactly the kind of player who'd maybe show up for the big games, but shirk his responsibilities away at Burnley. The situation we're in, we need to be picking up points wherever we can.
Money talks, indeed, but Man City and PSG between them have forced UEFA to close just about every possible loophole used by rich owners to 'inject' cash into a club. These are not the pre-FFP days that Chelsea and Man City both got to enjoy after their takeovers, with unlimited funds being introduced. You're not going to have a £400m transfer window. It's not possible. Rich owners are obviously a God-send, and you will be able to maximise your losses in line with FFP which will give you a decent bit of clout for a couple of transfer windows, but there won't be any City-style splurges, because you can't do that AND abide by FFP.
We've spent a LOT of money in the last two and a bit years, but it's all been about strengthening the squad as a whole, rather than having one or two exceptional but expensive players dragging the level up.
In our first year back up we bought lots of players around the £10m mark, a couple around £20m. Second year we bought one at £30m and four more in the £10-15m range. And now in our third year we've bought four in the £25-30m range plus we have an option on another one around £35m (Coutinho). We've also sold a homegrown player for £100m which is a massive boost to FFP, as it's all profit.
We've done all of that and STILL not bought anyone as expensive as Joelinton. That's not to say he was a bad buy, or that he's not worth the money, I'm just saying there are different ways to go about growing and improving when you have rich owners. The way City and Chelsea did it just isn't possible these days (unless you find a loophole that hasn't been closed yet, but that's unlikely).
I think anyone who believes Newcastle are guaranteed success in the next couple of of years is being naive. They will improve, certainly, and their rich owners have a much better starting point than ours did (they bought a mid-table championship side, not a premier league side), but even with City's riches it took them three years to go from 9th to the top four. If our improvement continues under Gerrard we will hopefully mount a European challenge next year (prob not a top four challenge though) and that will be our fourth premier league season with rich owners.
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I posted earlier it's etimated they can spend £800m in 4 years within FFP. I think that's a close to a guarantee that they'll be competing in the top 4-8 in the next few years as you can get. If they went down it would put a real dent in that.
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I posted earlier it's etimated they can spend £800m in 4 years within FFP. I think that's a close to a guarantee that they'll be competing in the top 4-8 in the next few years as you can get. If they went down it would put a real dent in that.
Yeah, we were handicapped somewhat from having had a spell in the Championship - they can go at it a bit more aggressively than we could. That and having a squad to build from to start with ... we came up with a squad size of about half a dozen players.
Think down at that bottom end of the table, it's really hard to say what'll happen. I'd be inclined to say that Watford are pretty strong contenders for going down, but I do think it could be any 2 from Burnley, Norwich, Newcastle, Everton, ... maybe Leeds or Brentford too. How that all pans out will have a huge impact on Newcastle going forward.
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I posted earlier it's etimated they can spend £800m in 4 years within FFP. I think that's a close to a guarantee that they'll be competing in the top 4-8 in the next few years as you can get. If they went down it would put a real dent in that.
I'd love to see that calculation, I'll go back and look for it. Given it's about £105m loss over three years, and Newcastle already lose money (it's not like there are profits on the books they can now spend because the owner is happy to), I can't for the life of me see how they can spend £200m a season and stay within FFP. I can see them doing what we did, something around £100m-£150m maybe, for a couple of seasons, but that's not sustainable beyond two or three years unless you start making money elsewhere (such as selling a homegrown player for £100m, for example).
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another oil rich club drove a bus through FFP, so why does any one think they won’t do it.
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I posted earlier it's etimated they can spend £800m in 4 years within FFP. I think that's a close to a guarantee that they'll be competing in the top 4-8 in the next few years as you can get. If they went down it would put a real dent in that.
I'd love to see that calculation, I'll go back and look for it. Given it's about £105m loss over three years, and Newcastle already lose money (it's not like there are profits on the books they can now spend because the owner is happy to), I can't for the life of me see how they can spend £200m a season and stay within FFP. I can see them doing what we did, something around £100m-£150m maybe, for a couple of seasons, but that's not sustainable beyond two or three years unless you start making money elsewhere (such as selling a homegrown player for £100m, for example).
I didn't calculate it. It was the estimate of kieran maguire, a well known football finance expert.
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They've still got a lot of work to do to improve massively though, there are probably only one 1 or 2 of their current team that would get anywhere near the first XI of a top 6 side. And as ridiculous as it sounds, £800 million still isn't going to buy them a league winning squad. The first teams of Chelsea, Man City and Liverpool would all cost massively in excess of that if you tried to buy them, and even our first team would probably cost £500+ million currently.
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I posted earlier it's etimated they can spend £800m in 4 years within FFP. I think that's a close to a guarantee that they'll be competing in the top 4-8 in the next few years as you can get. If they went down it would put a real dent in that.
I'd love to see that calculation, I'll go back and look for it. Given it's about £105m loss over three years, and Newcastle already lose money (it's not like there are profits on the books they can now spend because the owner is happy to), I can't for the life of me see how they can spend £200m a season and stay within FFP. I can see them doing what we did, something around £100m-£150m maybe, for a couple of seasons, but that's not sustainable beyond two or three years unless you start making money elsewhere (such as selling a homegrown player for £100m, for example).
I didn't calculate it. It was the estimate of kieran maguire, a well known football finance expert.
Yeah, just found it, but he's factored in "increased commercial opportunities" as well, so it's not like the £800m figure is guaranteed or that they can spend it based on what the club is like today. But that's true of any club, not just Newcastle. Improve your commercial situation and you can spend more.
Newcastle are in a better situation than we were when we got bought, definitely, but they are STILL losing money. It's not like they're Spurs, who have years and years of profits to fall back on for FFP purposes. I could see them doing £200m in the summer, definitely. But £200m a year for four years? No chance, unless they get into the top four or do something significant commercially.
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Inflated Shirt-sponsorship fiddles and the like Man Sheikhy did/do?
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I posted earlier it's etimated they can spend £800m in 4 years within FFP. I think that's a close to a guarantee that they'll be competing in the top 4-8 in the next few years as you can get. If they went down it would put a real dent in that.
I'd love to see that calculation, I'll go back and look for it. Given it's about £105m loss over three years, and Newcastle already lose money (it's not like there are profits on the books they can now spend because the owner is happy to), I can't for the life of me see how they can spend £200m a season and stay within FFP. I can see them doing what we did, something around £100m-£150m maybe, for a couple of seasons, but that's not sustainable beyond two or three years unless you start making money elsewhere (such as selling a homegrown player for £100m, for example).
I didn't calculate it. It was the estimate of kieran maguire, a well known football finance expert.
Yeah, just found it, but he's factored in "increased commercial opportunities" as well, so it's not like the £800m figure is guaranteed or that they can spend it based on what the club is like today. But that's true of any club, not just Newcastle. Improve your commercial situation and you can spend more.
Newcastle are in a better situation than we were when we got bought, definitely, but they are STILL losing money. It's not like they're Spurs, who have years and years of profits to fall back on for FFP purposes. I could see them doing £200m in the summer, definitely. But £200m a year for four years? No chance, unless they get into the top four or do something significant commercially.
With their owners they can sort out whatever sponsorship they want. I guess that was Maguires estimate of what he thinks they'll be able to get away with based on the Man City model.
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So how did Targett play last night? any good.
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I posted earlier it's etimated they can spend £800m in 4 years within FFP. I think that's a close to a guarantee that they'll be competing in the top 4-8 in the next few years as you can get. If they went down it would put a real dent in that.
I'd love to see that calculation, I'll go back and look for it. Given it's about £105m loss over three years, and Newcastle already lose money (it's not like there are profits on the books they can now spend because the owner is happy to), I can't for the life of me see how they can spend £200m a season and stay within FFP. I can see them doing what we did, something around £100m-£150m maybe, for a couple of seasons, but that's not sustainable beyond two or three years unless you start making money elsewhere (such as selling a homegrown player for £100m, for example).
I didn't calculate it. It was the estimate of kieran maguire, a well known football finance expert.
Yeah, just found it, but he's factored in "increased commercial opportunities" as well, so it's not like the £800m figure is guaranteed or that they can spend it based on what the club is like today. But that's true of any club, not just Newcastle. Improve your commercial situation and you can spend more.
Newcastle are in a better situation than we were when we got bought, definitely, but they are STILL losing money. It's not like they're Spurs, who have years and years of profits to fall back on for FFP purposes. I could see them doing £200m in the summer, definitely. But £200m a year for four years? No chance, unless they get into the top four or do something significant commercially.
With their owners they can sort out whatever sponsorship they want. I guess that was Maguires estimate of what he thinks they'll be able to get away with based on the Man City model.
I thought they had closed more of these loopholes though, which makes it harder for any team doing it going forward. Unfortunately Man City now have the attendant revenue from the Chumps League coming in, so their turnover is always going to be markedly higher than the likes of us or Newcastle until someone can force them out of the Top 4. The other thing in Man City's favour is the whole development in and around the Emptyhad - they are currently building the biggest indoor arena in Europe to add to all of the other facilities there, which I assume again is producing far more commercial revenue than most other clubs can generate.
Newcastle are clearly going to spend big and be much more of a force, however it's not right to just assume that either everything is going to go right for them. At the moment we are stuck with the same old clubs having a monopoly because they are permanent fixtures in the top 4/6. We are doing enough to suggest that we can start to beat some of these teams on a regular basis, but it's no good to us if no-one else is doing the same. A more competitive league will be in our interests, we just need to be smart about how we do things (and there are pretty positive signs that this is the case at the moment).
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I posted earlier it's etimated they can spend £800m in 4 years within FFP. I think that's a close to a guarantee that they'll be competing in the top 4-8 in the next few years as you can get. If they went down it would put a real dent in that.
I'd love to see that calculation, I'll go back and look for it. Given it's about £105m loss over three years, and Newcastle already lose money (it's not like there are profits on the books they can now spend because the owner is happy to), I can't for the life of me see how they can spend £200m a season and stay within FFP. I can see them doing what we did, something around £100m-£150m maybe, for a couple of seasons, but that's not sustainable beyond two or three years unless you start making money elsewhere (such as selling a homegrown player for £100m, for example).
I didn't calculate it. It was the estimate of kieran maguire, a well known football finance expert.
Yeah, just found it, but he's factored in "increased commercial opportunities" as well, so it's not like the £800m figure is guaranteed or that they can spend it based on what the club is like today. But that's true of any club, not just Newcastle. Improve your commercial situation and you can spend more.
Newcastle are in a better situation than we were when we got bought, definitely, but they are STILL losing money. It's not like they're Spurs, who have years and years of profits to fall back on for FFP purposes. I could see them doing £200m in the summer, definitely. But £200m a year for four years? No chance, unless they get into the top four or do something significant commercially.
With their owners they can sort out whatever sponsorship they want. I guess that was Maguires estimate of what he thinks they'll be able to get away with based on the Man City model.
I thought they had closed more of these loopholes though, which makes it harder for any team doing it going forward. Unfortunately Man City now have the attendant revenue from the Chumps League coming in, so their turnover is always going to be markedly higher than the likes of us or Newcastle until someone can force them out of the Top 4. The other thing in Man City's favour is the whole development in and around the Emptyhad - they are currently building the biggest indoor arena in Europe to add to all of the other facilities there, which I assume again is producing far more commercial revenue than most other clubs can generate.
Newcastle are clearly going to spend big and be much more of a force, however it's not right to just assume that either everything is going to go right for them. At the moment we are stuck with the same old clubs having a monopoly because they are permanent fixtures in the top 4/6. We are doing enough to suggest that we can start to beat some of these teams on a regular basis, but it's no good to us if no-one else is doing the same. A more competitive league will be in our interests, we just need to be smart about how we do things (and there are pretty positive signs that this is the case at the moment).
It's a game of whack-a-mole on the sponsorship front. The oil clubs in particular are always trying to skirt the rules, but PSG had to write-down the value of their sponsorships a couple of years ago, and were forced to sell players to stay within FFP rules. It's not as easy as it once was.
However, City signed a new "Luxury Hotel Partner" last month, which is, surprise surprise, a hotel group owned by the Abu Dhabi government. The premier league HAS implemented a new rule which means any sponsorship over £1m has to be reviewed and approved so as not to be classed as an 'associated party' transaction, but this one clearly passed the test.
I'm not saying Newcastle can't do the same, I'm just saying it's a LOT harder than it was before City and PSG started doing it.
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Rather than just limit the money coming into a club . limit the players you can own and loan out
A squad of 25 plus only 5 out on loan and your under 23 squad
Add to this salary capped at 100k a week
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So how did Targett play last night? any good.
Very good as per reports, as did Trippier. They are miles better than the players they are replacing.
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Matt Targett is a good player. But he's not a world beater. He will give ASM the same security he gave Jack to go forward. He's not going to bomb forward and win them games. But he will help them provide reliabity in that area.
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Well they certainly will not do it with the likes of Howe in charge, just like city started with Mark Hughes so it will not be an instant path to success as some will think
Unless they move Newcastle to London or the very least the North West they still have to get top players to go there
Money talks and for the record, the North East isn't some barren post-apocalyptic wasteland.
If we stay up, I wouldn't imagine Howe will be given long if he's not getting the most out of the players we've bought/will buy. But I do like that we haven't just thrown the cash around. We've signed experienced Premier League players to keep us up, plus a really promising young talent. I'd rather we did that than threw money at the modern day equivalent of Robinho. I mean we were linked with Ousmane Dembele, and I'm glad that never happened as he's exactly the kind of player who'd maybe show up for the big games, but shirk his responsibilities away at Burnley. The situation we're in, we need to be picking up points wherever we can.
Money talks, indeed, but Man City and PSG between them have forced UEFA to close just about every possible loophole used by rich owners to 'inject' cash into a club. These are not the pre-FFP days that Chelsea and Man City both got to enjoy after their takeovers, with unlimited funds being introduced. You're not going to have a £400m transfer window. It's not possible. Rich owners are obviously a God-send, and you will be able to maximise your losses in line with FFP which will give you a decent bit of clout for a couple of transfer windows, but there won't be any City-style splurges, because you can't do that AND abide by FFP.
We've spent a LOT of money in the last two and a bit years, but it's all been about strengthening the squad as a whole, rather than having one or two exceptional but expensive players dragging the level up.
In our first year back up we bought lots of players around the £10m mark, a couple around £20m. Second year we bought one at £30m and four more in the £10-15m range. And now in our third year we've bought four in the £25-30m range plus we have an option on another one around £35m (Coutinho). We've also sold a homegrown player for £100m which is a massive boost to FFP, as it's all profit.
We've done all of that and STILL not bought anyone as expensive as Joelinton. That's not to say he was a bad buy, or that he's not worth the money, I'm just saying there are different ways to go about growing and improving when you have rich owners. The way City and Chelsea did it just isn't possible these days (unless you find a loophole that hasn't been closed yet, but that's unlikely).
I think anyone who believes Newcastle are guaranteed success in the next couple of of years is being naive. They will improve, certainly, and their rich owners have a much better starting point than ours did (they bought a mid-table championship side, not a premier league side), but even with City's riches it took them three years to go from 9th to the top four. If our improvement continues under Gerrard we will hopefully mount a European challenge next year (prob not a top four challenge though) and that will be our fourth premier league season with rich owners.
Good post.
As your colleague says, though, it is possible for us to have a £400m window. Or, what is more likely, several big windows, without falling foul of FFP. Certainly so, when more money begins coming into the club through commercial revenue streams that all but dried up during the last owner.
There's nothing to stop Newcastle United signing shirt deals in line with West Ham, having our training ground sponsored (like Everton do), or whatever. That pushes the FFP line out further than it already is.
But the central point I think you're making is irrefutable. Money does not guarantee success. Look at how much we spent in the Hall era compared to others. Look at how much Premier League money has been thrown around by Spurs, West Ham, Everton, both our clubs and Sunderland. Not one of us has tasted real success and yet we've spent hundreds of millions.
If we are to enjoy success, it'll take money for sure, but also time, intelligence and not a little amount of luck.
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So how did Targett play last night? any good.
Good, really provided ASM with the kind of reliable platform that he's been lacking thus far. Couple of decent crosses and worked his socks off.
Huge, huge improvement on Lewis. Real shame that we face you next so he hasn't got the chance to build on his impressive debut.
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Maybe I’m being naive but I think Newcastle will simply buy their way past whatever FFP rules currently exist.
Will all the greedy buggers involved in football not want some of the money currently burning a hole in their pocket?
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Well they certainly will not do it with the likes of Howe in charge, just like city started with Mark Hughes so it will not be an instant path to success as some will think
Unless they move Newcastle to London or the very least the North West they still have to get top players to go there
Money talks and for the record, the North East isn't some barren post-apocalyptic wasteland.
If we stay up, I wouldn't imagine Howe will be given long if he's not getting the most out of the players we've bought/will buy. But I do like that we haven't just thrown the cash around. We've signed experienced Premier League players to keep us up, plus a really promising young talent. I'd rather we did that than threw money at the modern day equivalent of Robinho. I mean we were linked with Ousmane Dembele, and I'm glad that never happened as he's exactly the kind of player who'd maybe show up for the big games, but shirk his responsibilities away at Burnley. The situation we're in, we need to be picking up points wherever we can.
Money talks, indeed, but Man City and PSG between them have forced UEFA to close just about every possible loophole used by rich owners to 'inject' cash into a club. These are not the pre-FFP days that Chelsea and Man City both got to enjoy after their takeovers, with unlimited funds being introduced. You're not going to have a £400m transfer window. It's not possible. Rich owners are obviously a God-send, and you will be able to maximise your losses in line with FFP which will give you a decent bit of clout for a couple of transfer windows, but there won't be any City-style splurges, because you can't do that AND abide by FFP.
We've spent a LOT of money in the last two and a bit years, but it's all been about strengthening the squad as a whole, rather than having one or two exceptional but expensive players dragging the level up.
In our first year back up we bought lots of players around the £10m mark, a couple around £20m. Second year we bought one at £30m and four more in the £10-15m range. And now in our third year we've bought four in the £25-30m range plus we have an option on another one around £35m (Coutinho). We've also sold a homegrown player for £100m which is a massive boost to FFP, as it's all profit.
We've done all of that and STILL not bought anyone as expensive as Joelinton. That's not to say he was a bad buy, or that he's not worth the money, I'm just saying there are different ways to go about growing and improving when you have rich owners. The way City and Chelsea did it just isn't possible these days (unless you find a loophole that hasn't been closed yet, but that's unlikely).
I think anyone who believes Newcastle are guaranteed success in the next couple of of years is being naive. They will improve, certainly, and their rich owners have a much better starting point than ours did (they bought a mid-table championship side, not a premier league side), but even with City's riches it took them three years to go from 9th to the top four. If our improvement continues under Gerrard we will hopefully mount a European challenge next year (prob not a top four challenge though) and that will be our fourth premier league season with rich owners.
Good post.
As your colleague says, though, it is possible for us to have a £400m window. Or, what is more likely, several big windows, without falling foul of FFP. Certainly so, when more money begins coming into the club through commercial revenue streams that all but dried up during the last owner.
There's nothing to stop Newcastle United signing shirt deals in line with West Ham, having our training ground sponsored (like Everton do), or whatever. That pushes the FFP line out further than it already is.
But the central point I think you're making is irrefutable. Money does not guarantee success. Look at how much we spent in the Hall era compared to others. Look at how much Premier League money has been thrown around by Spurs, West Ham, Everton, both our clubs and Sunderland. Not one of us has tasted real success and yet we've spent hundreds of millions.
If we are to enjoy success, it'll take money for sure, but also time, intelligence and not a little amount of luck.
A £400m window MIGHT technically be possible given your FFP situation (I don’t know your finances well enough to know for certain), but I just don’t see it happening. I have no doubt you’ll be one of - if not the - biggest net spenders in world football this summer, and for the next couple of windows, but you’d only have to spend £230m to be the biggest spenders of all time in a single transfer window. That’s what a ‘big’ window looks like for the likes of Real Madrid and PSG. City have had a couple of windows around £200m (and even then had quite a bit coming back in, so that’s not ‘net’). I just don’t see you blowing those figures out of the water from a standing start, and being a club that loses money. £40-£50+m players want European football, and that’s the sort of player you need to be buying if you’re blowing £400m in a single window. I don’t know how you recruit enough players at that level, this summer, even if you’re offering mega wages. Those types of signings will come, but when you’re challenging at the top end, and not this summer.
If I was a betting man, I’d say £200m net spend, on 7 players this summer. Maybe a couple in the 40-50m mark, the rest buying a squad like we did in year one, solid premier league performers around 20m.
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Newcastle will spend as much as they want if they stop up. And nothing will be done about it unless the so called big six cry foul - but in so doing they would be attracting attention to their own finances - especially Citeh. A regime that has a human rights record as bad as theirs is not going to give a flying eff about FFP unless and until the punishment has teeth which it never will in my view. ESL is on its way and not soon enough for the likes of us.
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A £400m window MIGHT technically be possible given your FFP situation (I don’t know your finances well enough to know for certain), but I just don’t see it happening. I have no doubt you’ll be one of - if not the - biggest net spenders in world football this summer, and for the next couple of windows, but you’d only have to spend £230m to be the biggest spenders of all time in a single transfer window. That’s what a ‘big’ window looks like for the likes of Real Madrid and PSG. City have had a couple of windows around £200m (and even then had quite a bit coming back in, so that’s not ‘net’). I just don’t see you blowing those figures out of the water from a standing start, and being a club that loses money. £40-£50+m players want European football, and that’s the sort of player you need to be buying if you’re blowing £400m in a single window. I don’t know how you recruit enough players at that level, this summer, even if you’re offering mega wages. Those types of signings will come, but when you’re challenging at the top end, and not this summer.
If I was a betting man, I’d say £200m net spend, on 7 players this summer. Maybe a couple in the 40-50m mark, the rest buying a squad like we did in year one, solid premier league performers around 20m.
Absolutely, I don't think there's any expectation that Newcastle will be off spending £400m in a window or buying elite footballers just yet. We've signed Guimaraes, who's highly rated, but the rest were shred acquisitions given our position. I'd hope we applied the same logic to the next window; buying shrewdly for where we are.
e.g. if we end up 15th, I'd want us to replace some our weaker fringe players like Gayle, Clark, Ritchie etc. Spending c£40m on slot-straight-in quality like Botman, Grillitsch etc. Or up and comers like Ekitike. It would be stupid to go off and spunk all of our FFP cushion in one window, especially as the premium we'd have to pay will be at it's biggest this summer.
It'll take years before we're competing for the Cups, let alone getting amongst an already congested title race.
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Maybe I’m being naive but I think Newcastle will simply buy their way past whatever FFP rules currently exist.
Will all the greedy buggers involved in football not want some of the money currently burning a hole in their pocket?
They'll most likely employ smart expensive lawyers that Man City used to overcome any FFP breaches......
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https://talksport.com/football/1043839/matt-targett-newcastle-aston-villa-lucas-digne/amp/
This is very interesting Watch/listen.
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Maybe I’m being naive but I think Newcastle will simply buy their way past whatever FFP rules currently exist.
Will all the greedy buggers involved in football not want some of the money currently burning a hole in their pocket?
They'll most likely employ smart expensive lawyers that Man City used to overcome any FFP breaches......
To be fair, we don't exactly seem to be paying any attention to FFP ourselves.
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https://talksport.com/football/1043839/matt-targett-newcastle-aston-villa-lucas-digne/amp/
This is very interesting Watch/listen.
Suggests he didn't have the stomach for the fight to win back his place
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https://talksport.com/football/1043839/matt-targett-newcastle-aston-villa-lucas-digne/amp/
This is very interesting Watch/listen.
Suggests he didn't have the stomach for the fight to win back his place
Or perhaps he knew that the new signing would get the rest of the season and he'd rather be playing than sitting on the bench.
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https://talksport.com/football/1043839/matt-targett-newcastle-aston-villa-lucas-digne/amp/
This is very interesting Watch/listen.
Suggests he didn't have the stomach for the fight to win back his place
Or perhaps he knew that the new signing would get the rest of the season and he'd rather be playing than sitting on the bench.
I listened to the interview when it was on today and that’s exactly what I thought
It’s difficult to fight for your place in the team when you’re virtually guaranteed to be on the bench every week because if he drops a £25 million signing straight away people will point the finger and say why did you bother Bringing him in when he’s not better than what we’ve already got
Writing was on the wall straight away
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It's a bit like when Barkley came and Hourihane was ousted.
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https://talksport.com/football/1043839/matt-targett-newcastle-aston-villa-lucas-digne/amp/
This is very interesting Watch/listen.
Suggests he didn't have the stomach for the fight to win back his place
Or perhaps he knew that the new signing would get the rest of the season and he'd rather be playing than sitting on the bench.
I listened to the interview when it was on today and that’s exactly what I thought
It’s difficult to fight for your place in the team when you’re virtually guaranteed to be on the bench every week because if he drops a £25 million signing straight away people will point the finger and say why did you bother Bringing him in when he’s not better than what we’ve already got
Writing was on the wall straight away
Yeah - I dont think it shows a weakness in his personality. Hes 26, and hes not thick - he can see he doesnt suit this system. No mid-table team pays 25m for a 29 yo left back to "fight it out" with the the incumbent. Think hes always given his best for us, but at the end of the day you pick your battles - and I guess for him it wasn't a fight he felt he needed and I dont think any less of him for that.
we can't knock Joe for going to site on the bench, and then lambast someone who moves to get football.
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https://talksport.com/football/1043839/matt-targett-newcastle-aston-villa-lucas-digne/amp/
This is very interesting Watch/listen.
Suggests he didn't have the stomach for the fight to win back his place
Or perhaps he knew that the new signing would get the rest of the season and he'd rather be playing than sitting on the bench.
I listened to the interview when it was on today and that’s exactly what I thought
It’s difficult to fight for your place in the team when you’re virtually guaranteed to be on the bench every week because if he drops a £25 million signing straight away people will point the finger and say why did you bother Bringing him in when he’s not better than what we’ve already got
Writing was on the wall straight away
Yeah - I dont think it shows a weakness in his personality. Hes 26, and hes not thick - he can see he doesnt suit this system. No mid-table team pays 25m for a 29 yo left back to "fight it out" with the the incumbent. Think hes always given his best for us, but at the end of the day you pick your battles - and I guess for him it wasn't a fight he felt he needed and I dont think any less of him for that.
we can't knock Joe for going to site on the bench, and then lambast someone who moves to get football.
Yeah agree entirely with that
The other thing is if you’re a midfielder there’s a few spots up for grabs and substitutions in most games usually come from that area as well so give’s you opportunities
Whereas There’s just 1 position at left back to fight over so you’re just waiting really for an injury or someone to have a shocker
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I remember when Gary Cahill left because he "wasn't prepared to fight for his place". That went well.
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Knight was a journeyman. Digne is miles better than Targett.
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Going forward maybe but defensively ?
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Digne is miles better than Targett.
I am sure he will prove to be in time but at present ive not seen much other than the corner for Emi at Everton
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Digne is miles better than Targett.
I am sure he will prove to be in time but at present ive not seen much other than the corner for Emi at Everton
He was brilliant in the Man Utd game, but outside of that has been pretty quiet.
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In reality, the only means he had of 'fighting for his place' in what was left of the season was to go out on loan to another Premier league team, where he'd be likely to be in the starting XI, and then try and show what he's capable of. I hope he does well at Newcastle.
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Knight was a journeyman. Digne is miles better than Targett.
Journeymen are fine for backup. I thought Knight did ok for us when called upon. MON rating Curtis Davies higher than Cahill was the problem really.
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Knight was a journeyman. Digne is miles better than Targett.
Journeymen are fine for backup. I thought Knight did ok for us when called upon. MON rating Curtis Davies higher than Cahill was the problem really.
I agree with this, I liked Zat Knight, he never let us down and we ended up selling him for more than we paid for him, not often you could say that about O'Neill's signings.
We paid a shitload for Davies and Cahill was better.
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When we start playing more than one round of the cup competitions and get some European football, the likes of Matt Targett will want to hang around. However, with nothing to play for this season, and as a definite back up only, I don't blame him for wanting to go.
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The shit thing about Cahill is that MO'N should have encouraged him to stay, rather than selling him to Bolton.
Within weeks of GC leaving, Curtis Davies popped his Achilles at Arsenal, and Garry would have had a chance of a long run here.
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The shit thing about Cahill is that MO'N should have encouraged him to stay, rather than selling him to Bolton.
Within weeks of GC leaving, Curtis Davies popped his Achilles at Arsenal, and Garry would have had a chance of a long run here.
I heard MON say "I'll tell you about Gary Cahill, he can do everything except defend"
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When we start playing more than one round of the cup competitions and get some European football, the likes of Matt Targett will want to hang around. However, with nothing to play for this season, and as a definite back up only, I don't blame him for wanting to go.
The ideal situation for me would be to have 16/17 senior pro's and 6/7 really promising kids who are good enough to be in the mix. In big games you might then play 9/10 seniors and 1/2 kids (i.e. Ramsey). Then in cup and European games playing the 6/7 kids with a few senior heads around them and maybe one or two more kids if the opposition is quite weak.
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He was very good yesterday.
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Is he one of those players who gets better when we don't have him? By that, he mythically becomes the player we all wanted to see but in actual fact, he's still just not very good?
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He's gone from coward to hero it seems.
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He was not the same player without Grealish going forward but was still decent defensively. I get why Gerrard wanted more going forward but it doesn’t look like a £25m problem that needed resolving as a priority at the moment.
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We would have been better served picking up a Bissouma type (although I have deep misgivings of him for other reasons). But at the same time, Digne would have been out of reach but for that moment under Benitez as well.
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We would have been better served picking up a Bissouma type (although I have deep misgivings of him for other reasons). But at the same time, Digne would have been out of reach but for that moment under Benitez as well.
When a full back of that quality is available at that price, and long term fits into precisely how the manager wants to play you pull the trigger. We also went for the other two players he really wanted and got one of them. So we certainly tried albeit failed on one critical position.
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We would have been better served picking up a Bissouma type (although I have deep misgivings of him for other reasons). But at the same time, Digne would have been out of reach but for that moment under Benitez as well.
When a full back of that quality is available at that price, and long term fits into precisely how the manager wants to play you pull the trigger. We also went for the other two players he really wanted and got one of them. So we certainly tried albeit failed on one critical position.
I agree, I see it that Digne was only ever going to be available at that price, then. We've just taken a longer term view that £25m for Digne now and £25m for Bissouma in the summer is better value than £50m for Bissouma now and £45m for Digne in the summer.
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We would have been better served picking up a Bissouma type (although I have deep misgivings of him for other reasons). But at the same time, Digne would have been out of reach but for that moment under Benitez as well.
When a full back of that quality is available at that price, and long term fits into precisely how the manager wants to play you pull the trigger. We also went for the other two players he really wanted and got one of them. So we certainly tried albeit failed on one critical position.
I agree, I see it that Digne was only ever going to be available at that price, then. We've just taken a longer term view that £25m for Digne now and £25m for Bissouma in the summer is better value than £50m for Bissouma now and £45m for Digne in the summer.
That would be OK if you could put a deposit on Bissouma and reserve him under the counter until summer, but football doesn't work like that.
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Ill be surprised if Bissouma ends up with us in tge summer, too much noise around him now, he’ll end up at a team further up the table.
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About half way through the second half against West Ham Targett stopped a cross and calmly passed the ball into midfield. My mate turned to me and said "Ohhh, so that's what a left back looks like?"
Matt Targett is a midtable Premier League left back and that is such an upgrade on what we've had, mere competence looks like excellence.
Tell you what, if he maintains this form for the rest of the season, I'd be happy to take him off your hands. Digne is probably better (certainly better going forward), but for what we'll need if we stay up? Targett is spot on.
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About half way through the second half against West Ham Targett stopped a cross and calmly passed the ball into midfield. My mate turned to me and said "Ohhh, so that's what a left back looks like?"
Matt Targett is a midtable Premier League left back and that is such an upgrade on what we've had, mere competence looks like excellence.
Tell you what, if he maintains this form for the rest of the season, I'd be happy to take him off your hands. Digne is probably better (certainly better going forward), but for what we'll need if we stay up? Targett is spot on.
He has not been at his best this season but on his game he can be a very decent Left Back.
I do not think that Digne is that much of an upgrade to be honest.
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Targett isn't a bad player - he's just not as good as Digne.
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Targett isn't a bad player - he's just not as good as Digne.
Sums it up for me too.
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Targett was great last season, a massive step up on the previous where he was generally shocking. Last season he showed what a clever defender he is which is what I'm sure Newcastle want and need before they start experimenting with flying wing backs who don't need to defend. We signed a man-child and turned him into a man. Not sure what happened to him this season but never looked like the player of last season.
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We would have been better served picking up a Bissouma type (although I have deep misgivings of him for other reasons). But at the same time, Digne would have been out of reach but for that moment under Benitez as well.
When a full back of that quality is available at that price, and long term fits into precisely how the manager wants to play you pull the trigger. We also went for the other two players he really wanted and got one of them. So we certainly tried albeit failed on one critical position.
I agree, I see it that Digne was only ever going to be available at that price, then. We've just taken a longer term view that £25m for Digne now and £25m for Bissouma in the summer is better value than £50m for Bissouma now and £45m for Digne in the summer.
That would be OK if you could put a deposit on Bissouma and reserve him under the counter until summer, but football doesn't work like that.
Ah, I was thinking it was more like an online Waitrose order.
What you do is you tick "no substitutions" on your online order, then you don't end up trying to buy a nice new Ward-Prowse and end up with a Danny Ings that you didn't really want, but he was worth about the same and also in the "Southampton" aisle so the dippy order picker thought he'd do
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Christ, we'll end up with Neil Maupay, won't we?
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Targett was great last season, a massive step up on the previous where he was generally shocking. Last season he showed what a clever defender he is which is what I'm sure Newcastle want and need before they start experimenting with flying wing backs who don't need to defend. We signed a man-child and turned him into a man. Not sure what happened to him this season but never looked like the player of last season.
Crap/disrupted pre season didn't help him. Was rotten in first few games. Wing back certainly didn't suit him after then. While he did very well last season, having Grealish in front of him obviously helped a lot. Moyes played two right backs against us for example. Cash was targeted a lot more maybe as a result. He's a very good signing for Newcastle as ASM likes to dribble and cut inside like Grealish used to. Miles better than likes of Dummet and Richie who are barely championship standard.
Digne is certainly better with the ball but like most of our players he was rubbish last two games. It's already obvious that he isn't overly fond of the defensive/physical stuff.
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Targett is a good, technically competent footballer, and a pretty good defender (not excellent, but pretty good). He lacks two things to be a top full-back, particularly in a side that plays the way we do now, and that's any real pace, and creativity in the final third. Neither of those things were a significant disadvantage when he played a supporting role behind Grealish, and they are unlikely to be a disadvantage playing a supporting role behind Saint-Maximin. His job behind those two isn't about creating, it's about defending well and being around to help recycle the ball to the player ahead of him who can do the creating. That's his bread and butter.
If Newcastle are going to make Saint-Maximin a key part of their side for the next couple of years (and it looks like they are), then they could do a lot worse than make Targett the permanent fixture behind him. He's the perfect full-back to play behind a mercurial left-sided attacker. And that's easily worth £20m in today's market. I say take the money and get a younger player in as back-up to Digne (maybe Chrisene is the one for that role, but I've only ever seen him play midfield at youth level). I hope the rest of his loan goes well and he generates a nice chunk of change for reinvestment in the summer.
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I miss Matt.
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I miss Matt.
Ironically, the amount of games Digne has missed through injury and illness, Matt would've got plenty of game time had he stayed. Gerrard should've insisted on him staying and not helping Newcastle who are highly likely to finish above us now. A poor decision to leave us with no real LB cover apart from Ashley Young.
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Take him back, Aston Villa, take him back.
We're giving him away if £15m is the agreed summer price. Unless we rinsed them for £5m+ for the half-season loan which seems unlikely.