Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Heroes Discussion => Topic started by: Risso on January 09, 2023, 11:55:50 AM
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Being reported that this one is getting closer, so probably worth starting a thread. Apparently he hasn't travelled to Saudi Arabia with the rest of the squad for a cup game.
He looks a good player, but another 30 year old left back wouldn't to me, be that urgent a signing.
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It seems a strange first signing when we already have an expensive international left back. But Moreno is highly rated and now for the first time in a long time I have real faith in the manager, so if it's what he wants then I'm glad the club is backing him. I just hope that it's only speculation about Maguire as that really would shake my faith.
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It seems a strange first signing when we already have an expensive international left back. But Moreno is highly rated and now for the first time in a long time I have real faith in the manager, so if it's what he wants then I'm glad the club is backing him. I just hope that it's only speculation about Maguire as that really would shake my faith.
if it means we won’t see Augustine again I am all for it.
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With Augustinsson injured and not that good based on yesterday against lower league opposition maybe it's a very good signing. I know little about him but in Emery I still have some trust.
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I like this (assuming it happens).
I don’t think Unai rates Digne, too defensively weak. This guy is highly rated, strong both on and off the ball, speaks Spanish, will fit well into how Unai wants to play, is at his peak, and even at 29 has 4-5 good years ahead of him.
A good first step in my book.
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I like this (assuming it happens).
I don’t think Unai rates Digne, too defensively weak. This guy is highly rated, strong both on and off the ball, speaks Spanish, will fit well into how Unai wants to play, is at his peak, and even at 29 has 4-5 good years ahead of him.
A good first step in my book.
Relative buttons at today's prices as well
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Not sure how long it takes to get international clearance but wouldn't shock me if we started him v Leeds although Southampton away looks more realistic.
He's coming as a starter anyway given he plays every week for Betis.
Probably not a shock that yesterday has accelerated this move.
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I like this (assuming it happens).
I don’t think Unai rates Digne, too defensively weak. This guy is highly rated, strong both on and off the ball, speaks Spanish, will fit well into how Unai wants to play, is at his peak, and even at 29 has 4-5 good years ahead of him.
A good first step in my book.
Wasn't one of the pluses of Emery the fact that he'd be able to get the best out of the players we already have? Digne has played for PSG, Roma and Barcelona, and has nearly 50 caps for France.
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This guy plays at full back and on the wing I think? So my guess is that we'll perhaps see him further forward.
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This guy plays at full back and on the wing I think? So my guess is that we'll perhaps see him further forward.
Yes Betis played a 4-4-1-1 yesterday and he started infront of their LB so guess in short term he's a signing that can simply mean we play an actual wide player in final third which is a problem currently given how the squad in that area was dismantled by previous manager.
Digne stays in for now but he's on notice so hopefully he bucks his ideas up.
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This guy plays at full back and on the wing I think? So my guess is that we'll perhaps see him further forward.
I'd much, much rather get a proper winger, than a sometimes winger who mainly plays in defence. Hopefully we'll get both of course.
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I don’t think Unai rates Digne, too defensively weak. This guy is highly rated, strong both on and off the ball, speaks Spanish, will fit well into how Unai wants to play, is at his peak, and even at 29 has 4-5 good years ahead of him.
If he does sign I'd be expecting him to be useful for this season and next which given the price seems fair. I'd hope by then we'd be looking for better than two 31 year old left backs. Not everybody can be Ashley Young.
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Know nothing about him so can't really judge, but i don't really care what order new bodies come in, as long as the obvious and pressing deficiencies are sorted by the end of jan.
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Strange signing but Emery obviously knows him well so just have to trust his judgement. I expect Augustinson was going to be moved on this month but his injury might have put a stop to it.
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He is highly rated in Spain & many think he is the second best LB Spain have after Gaya. Very fast & energetic. If the price is right, his age wont concern me as I don't think he will be a long term solution, despite him probably becoming the first choice LB for the now. He might be the perfect pairing with Digne before Chrisene comes of age. Either way, he has far more quality than Augustinsson & probably stronger than Digne too in the system Emery wants to play, so having two decent LBs in the squad will be far more beneficial than what we currently have.
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I wonder if this is competition or a replacement to Digne?
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Isn't Digne on stupid wages (£125k has been bandied about). He was Gerrard's first signing and the board presumably bent over backwards to support him on it but that is an awful amount to be paying for a benched back-up.
As usual with Aston fucking Villa, we're playing the minimum 40/41 game season again so there'll be little use for Digne and we'll have to subsidise his wages if he asks for a loan move.
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Digne is a weak fucker defensively. Loves the glory of bombing forward and doubling up on fullbacks but isn't up for the fight when he's on the back foot. I think he's been rubbish for the money he cost.
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I like this (assuming it happens).
I don’t think Unai rates Digne, too defensively weak. This guy is highly rated, strong both on and off the ball, speaks Spanish, will fit well into how Unai wants to play, is at his peak, and even at 29 has 4-5 good years ahead of him.
A good first step in my book.
Wasn't one of the pluses of Emery the fact that he'd be able to get the best out of the players we already have? Digne has played for PSG, Roma and Barcelona, and has nearly 50 caps for France.
One of those players that looks good at smaller clubs.
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Digne is a weak fucker defensively. Loves the glory of bombing forward and doubling up on fullbacks but isn't up for the fight when he's on the back foot. I think he's been rubbish for the money he cost.
I think that’s a load of nonsense and Digne is a good player.
In any case no awareness of Moreno, so hope he’s good.
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I like this (assuming it happens).
I don’t think Unai rates Digne, too defensively weak. This guy is highly rated, strong both on and off the ball, speaks Spanish, will fit well into how Unai wants to play, is at his peak, and even at 29 has 4-5 good years ahead of him.
A good first step in my book.
Wasn't one of the pluses of Emery the fact that he'd be able to get the best out of the players we already have? Digne has played for PSG, Roma and Barcelona, and has nearly 50 caps for France.
One of those players that looks good at smaller clubs.
Also unusual in that he's survived an Everton phase, which is 99 times out of 100 a route to obscurity.
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I think this is about having 2 options on the left side, either could play in midfield, either could potentially play in a wing back role if Emery wanted to change the system. We've already seen Cash and Young in the side together on the right.
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Why would we be signing fullbacks to also play in midfield?
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I think the main thing he'll offer is pace. I noticed against Wolves that Digne was constantly left unmarked in the first half our on the touchline. A combination of our slow passing and his lack of pace meant that he was never going to get in behind their defence, so they could afford to leave him out there - safe in the knowledge that they could close him down quick enough if the ball did get out to him.
A full back with pace could open up space elsewhere on the pitch for our other players, as well as offering an outlet themselves. If he can cross as well, then he might quickly become one of our most dangerous players. If he is our only signing of the window, I might be a little concerned, but it's certainly an area we need something a bit different.
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From what you see in clips he’s a very dynamic wing back. Loves to get into the box and play at pace. We are way too slow in a number of areas right now. I still think Digne will have a role short term but this could indicate the start of a change in how we approach games.
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I find it weird that both Emery and his predecessor have prioritised signing a LB. I don't know what the fee is for AM, but I'd prefer a strong left winger to come in to support Digne on the left; someone who can also score goals.
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I find it weird that both Emery and his predecessor have prioritised signing a LB. I don't know what the fee is for AM, but I'd prefer a strong left winger to come in to support Digne on the left; someone who can also score goals.
£15m is the reported fee.
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Was Digne £25m? That's a lot of money on 2 ageing LB's.
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Last season
Played 30, Goals 5, Assists 4.
This season
P 15, G 0, A 4.
Overall
P 146, G 6, A 15
Looks like last season was pretty amazing but before that a bit average.
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So if you ignore last season and this, 1 goal and 7 assists in 100 games.
He'll fit right in.
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I hope our luck with Spanish players starts to change with Moreno. Much as Kamara is helping out with our French signings. We must have signed some of the most inept players from those two countries over the years at a time where both have been very dominant on an international stage.
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Was Antonio Luna our last Spanish LB?
I'm sure I remember him inexplicably popping up on the right wing to charge forward and score, maybe against Arsenal?
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So if you ignore last season and this, 1 goal and 7 assists in 100 games.
He'll fit right in.
Well you’d hope and probably rightly expect that the last two seasons are a bit more relevant than three years ago.
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So if you ignore last season and this, 1 goal and 7 assists in 100 games.
He'll fit right in.
Well you’d hope and probably rightly expect that the last two seasons are a bit more relevant than three years ago.
You'd hope so, but this is Villa...
Anyway, I know fuck all about him and love a new signing, so let's get him in.
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Was Antonio Luna our last Spanish LB?
I'm sure I remember him inexplicably popping up on the right wing to charge forward and score, maybe against Arsenal?
Yes, first game of the season. It was limbs, as the kids say.
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Was Antonio Luna our last Spanish LB?
I'm sure I remember him inexplicably popping up on the right wing to charge forward and score, maybe against Arsenal?
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=157904808960850
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Was Antonio Luna our last Spanish LB?
I'm sure I remember him inexplicably popping up on the right wing to charge forward and score, maybe against Arsenal?
He scored a goal alright , utterly useless that aside. There was some very average Spanish CB who played v Stoke one day under Tactics and Cuellar who was horrible at RB. Pepe Reina, Carlos Gil....not the best selection of Spanish players!
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Great finish. I just googled him and saw that he'd been assinated! Turns out it's some dude from the Philippines in the olden days.
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Jose Crespo. I have no idea how people are forgetting legends Jota, Borja Baston and Adama.
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Good old Tony Moon.
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I'm uneasy about signing a 'wing-back'. It makes me think we'll go five-at-the-back.
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I want him to use whatever formation gives us the most wins
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I'm uneasy about signing a 'wing-back'. It makes me think we'll go five-at-the-back.
We have already seen six at the back haven’t we?
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Fabrizio Romano - Aston Villa are now closing in on Alex Moreno deal. Agreement around €14m fee, expected to be signed in the next hours, documents being checked — here we go soon. 🟣🔵 #AVFC
Personal terms agreed with hope to get the medical tests done within this week.
https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1612519641775243264?s=20&t=wrHG80Wv_gmD0NcC3VL38w
(https://i.ibb.co/Ry2BJPD/Fm-DSEOw-WYBQlb-EA.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Ry2BJPD)
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If it happens, I \welcome the signing because even though he is 30, £14m isnt a great deal of money to plug a gap for a few years with a player highly rated in Spain who, most importantly, has a lot of pace. Digne is good on the ball, but he isn't swishing past anybody any time soon. Will be nice to have two decent players for the position though. First steps to building a squad.
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Who knows he might be OK he seems to be a utility player so could be played as a winger.
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Can't possibly be any worse than what we already have. Famous last words!
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64216200
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One awful FB replaced, another awful one to go!
This guy actually likes to run towards goal with the ball, a vast upgrade on our current shower.
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Never heard of him or seen him play - hope that he will be brilliant for us, the first of the Emery signings.
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Never heard of him or seen him play - hope that he will be brilliant for us, the first of the Emery signings.
Here you go Sid:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8nCJ7NeLfVk
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Thank you Percy - looks good on you tube, could be a good left back or play on the left in midfield
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It's not shaping up to be a good day. It's 6:45 am as I'm typing this I've just finished my breakfast. I'm taking my car in for service today, the garage is fifty miles away, and my appointment is at nine. Why up so early? You may well ask.
I got a new phone for Christmas and as a precaution I set the alarm. Neither I nor Mrs S need an alarm as our body clocks suffice.
I was in a deep sleep when the alarm went off scaring the shit out of me. I flew out of bed, into the bathroom got washed and dressed then down to the kitchen to get my breakfast. Something was nagging me whilst eating it (not the wife, although I wouldn't blame her). It's my intention to leave here at 7:45 so checked my watch and thought shit, the battery has gone, you can see where this is going can't you? I looked at the kitchen clock, it was 6:15!
I got a new phone for Christmas and set the alarm to a soft Mozart tune for 7am only for the bleeding thing to default back to factory setting which is obviously 6am! Not only that but the alarm chime is some hideous bell type thing which came out at full volume!
If anyone knows how to set the alarm on a Galaxy A13 properly please post it on here so that this dope can learn how to do it. Oh, finally, also if you know how to change the ring tone so that that doesn't go back to factory setting it would be much appreciated.*
* For those thinking that it has taken a long time to type this post the reason is that it's the second time I've typed it, I pressed the wrong button and lost the first. I hope the rest of the day is better.
**Fuck me it isn't, posted in the wrong thread, would some kind mod please move it into the annoying thread? Thanks in advance.
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Thank you Percy - looks good on you tube, could be a good left back or play on the left in midfield
Looks good on Youtube, ah yes I remember Jores Okore looked good on Youtube.
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Reminds me of a certain Wolves player, if only I could remember his name.
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Never heard of him or seen him play - hope that he will be brilliant for us, the first of the Emery signings.
Here you go Sid:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8nCJ7NeLfVk
"4/10 Injury Prone"
We all know where this is going....
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He looks good with the ball - could do a job in midfield as well. Also looks quite quick. Striker next please.
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He looks good with the ball - could do a job in midfield as well. Also looks quite quick. Striker next please.
But how many players in the past have we bought because, well, “they can do a job”?
It usually transpires that they can’t
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It's not shaping up to be a good day. It's 6:45 am as I'm typing this I've just finished my breakfast. I'm taking my car in for service today, the garage is fifty miles away, and my appointment is at nine. Why up so early? You may well ask.
I got a new phone for Christmas and as a precaution I set the alarm. Neither I nor Mrs S need an alarm as our body clocks suffice.
I was in a deep sleep when the alarm went off scaring the shit out of me. I flew out of bed, into the bathroom got washed and dressed then down to the kitchen to get my breakfast. Something was nagging me whilst eating it (not the wife, although I wouldn't blame her). It's my intention to leave here at 7:45 so checked my watch and thought shit, the battery has gone, you can see where this is going can't you? I looked at the kitchen clock, it was 6:15!
I got a new phone for Christmas and set the alarm to a soft Mozart tune for 7am only for the bleeding thing to default back to factory setting which is obviously 6am! Not only that but the alarm chime is some hideous bell type thing which came out at full volume!
If anyone knows how to set the alarm on a Galaxy A13 properly please post it on here so that this dope can learn how to do it. Oh, finally, also if you know how to change the ring tone so that that doesn't go back to factory setting it would be much appreciated.*
* For those thinking that it has taken a long time to type this post the reason is that it's the second time I've typed it, I pressed the wrong button and lost the first. I hope the rest of the day is better.
**Fuck me it isn't, posted in the wrong thread, would some kind mod please move it into the annoying thread? Thanks in advance.
Ha ha, I love these type of random posts especially when they’re put up on the wrong thread
They humanise the forum site a bit
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Let's see how he does well. Difficult to say more than that, I struggle to conjure up excitement these days as so many great of them underwhelm!
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He looks good with the ball - could do a job in midfield as well. Also looks quite quick. Striker next please.
But how many players in the past have we bought because, well, “they can do a job”?
It usually transpires that they can’t
He is very highly thought of in Spain. A lot of people think he is the best Spanish LB after Gaya.
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He looks good with the ball - could do a job in midfield as well. Also looks quite quick. Striker next please.
But how many players in the past have we bought because, well, “they can do a job”?
It usually transpires that they can’t
At least let the guy sign his name on the contract before bursting bubbles!
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He looks good with the ball - could do a job in midfield as well. Also looks quite quick. Striker next please.
But how many players in the past have we bought because, well, “they can do a job”?
It usually transpires that they can’t
At least let the guy sign his name on the contract before bursting bubbles!
You’re correct and I obviously hope he does well.
No offence to Mallo but it’s just the phrase “he can probably do a job” that sums up Villa for longer than I care to remember.
Hopefully he will turn out to be like a certain No. 5 who we bought thinking he would “probably do a job” for a couple of years
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It's not shaping up to be a good day. It's 6:45 am as I'm typing this I've just finished my breakfast. I'm taking my car in for service today, the garage is fifty miles away, and my appointment is at nine. Why up so early? You may well ask.
I got a new phone for Christmas and as a precaution I set the alarm. Neither I nor Mrs S need an alarm as our body clocks suffice.
I was in a deep sleep when the alarm went off scaring the shit out of me. I flew out of bed, into the bathroom got washed and dressed then down to the kitchen to get my breakfast. Something was nagging me whilst eating it (not the wife, although I wouldn't blame her). It's my intention to leave here at 7:45 so checked my watch and thought shit, the battery has gone, you can see where this is going can't you? I looked at the kitchen clock, it was 6:15!
I got a new phone for Christmas and set the alarm to a soft Mozart tune for 7am only for the bleeding thing to default back to factory setting which is obviously 6am! Not only that but the alarm chime is some hideous bell type thing which came out at full volume!
If anyone knows how to set the alarm on a Galaxy A13 properly please post it on here so that this dope can learn how to do it. Oh, finally, also if you know how to change the ring tone so that that doesn't go back to factory setting it would be much appreciated.*
* For those thinking that it has taken a long time to type this post the reason is that it's the second time I've typed it, I pressed the wrong button and lost the first. I hope the rest of the day is better.
**Fuck me it isn't, posted in the wrong thread, would some kind mod please move it into the annoying thread? Thanks in advance.
Ha ha, I love these type of random posts especially when they’re put up on the wrong thread
They humanise the forum site a bit
Ha Ha. The picture played out perfectly in my mind. Hope your day improves Dave.
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He looks good with the ball - could do a job in midfield as well. Also looks quite quick. Striker next please.
But how many players in the past have we bought because, well, “they can do a job”?
It usually transpires that they can’t
At least let the guy sign his name on the contract before bursting bubbles!
You’re correct and I obviously hope he does well.
No offence to Mallo but it’s just the phrase “he can probably do a job” that sums up Villa for longer than I care to remember.
Hopefully he will turn out to be like a certain No. 5 who we bought thinking he would “probably do a job” for a couple of years
If he can do a job and has that burst of speed he's an upgrade.
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It's not shaping up to be a good day. It's 6:45 am as I'm typing this I've just finished my breakfast. I'm taking my car in for service today, the garage is fifty miles away, and my appointment is at nine. Why up so early? You may well ask.
I got a new phone for Christmas and as a precaution I set the alarm. Neither I nor Mrs S need an alarm as our body clocks suffice.
I was in a deep sleep when the alarm went off scaring the shit out of me. I flew out of bed, into the bathroom got washed and dressed then down to the kitchen to get my breakfast. Something was nagging me whilst eating it (not the wife, although I wouldn't blame her). It's my intention to leave here at 7:45 so checked my watch and thought shit, the battery has gone, you can see where this is going can't you? I looked at the kitchen clock, it was 6:15!
I got a new phone for Christmas and set the alarm to a soft Mozart tune for 7am only for the bleeding thing to default back to factory setting which is obviously 6am! Not only that but the alarm chime is some hideous bell type thing which came out at full volume!
If anyone knows how to set the alarm on a Galaxy A13 properly please post it on here so that this dope can learn how to do it. Oh, finally, also if you know how to change the ring tone so that that doesn't go back to factory setting it would be much appreciated.*
* For those thinking that it has taken a long time to type this post the reason is that it's the second time I've typed it, I pressed the wrong button and lost the first. I hope the rest of the day is better.
**Fuck me it isn't, posted in the wrong thread, would some kind mod please move it into the annoying thread? Thanks in advance.
Ha ha, I love these type of random posts especially when they’re put up on the wrong thread
They humanise the forum site a bit
Nice one Dave! Cheered me up no end.
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Alex Moreno has had the most shots of any full-back in LaLiga since the start of last season (40)
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The Spanish defenders are either very slow or this guy is rapid which i am liking. Hope it is genuine pace rather than the "yet to be seen" rumoured Bailey speed machine.
Anyway welcome and please be good
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Alex Moreno has had the most shots of any full-back in LaLiga since the start of last season (40)
How many goals has he scored?
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Alex Moreno has had the most shots of any full-back in LaLiga since the start of last season (40)
How many goals has he scored?
6 I think? Someone put his G/A stats earlier in the thread.
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It's not shaping up to be a good day. It's 6:45 am as I'm typing this I've just finished my breakfast. I'm taking my car in for service today, the garage is fifty miles away, and my appointment is at nine. Why up so early? You may well ask.
I got a new phone for Christmas and as a precaution I set the alarm. Neither I nor Mrs S need an alarm as our body clocks suffice.
I was in a deep sleep when the alarm went off scaring the shit out of me. I flew out of bed, into the bathroom got washed and dressed then down to the kitchen to get my breakfast. Something was nagging me whilst eating it (not the wife, although I wouldn't blame her). It's my intention to leave here at 7:45 so checked my watch and thought shit, the battery has gone, you can see where this is going can't you? I looked at the kitchen clock, it was 6:15!
I got a new phone for Christmas and set the alarm to a soft Mozart tune for 7am only for the bleeding thing to default back to factory setting which is obviously 6am! Not only that but the alarm chime is some hideous bell type thing which came out at full volume!
If anyone knows how to set the alarm on a Galaxy A13 properly please post it on here so that this dope can learn how to do it. Oh, finally, also if you know how to change the ring tone so that that doesn't go back to factory setting it would be much appreciated.*
* For those thinking that it has taken a long time to type this post the reason is that it's the second time I've typed it, I pressed the wrong button and lost the first. I hope the rest of the day is better.
**Fuck me it isn't, posted in the wrong thread, would some kind mod please move it into the annoying thread? Thanks in advance.
Ha ha, I love these type of random posts especially when they’re put up on the wrong thread
They humanise the forum site a bit
Nice one Dave! Cheered me up no end.
Yes but he needs help.
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Alex Moreno has had the most shots of any full-back in LaLiga since the start of last season (40)
How many goals has he scored?
6 I think? Someone put his G/A stats earlier in the thread.
Last season
Played 30, Goals 5, Assists 4.
This season
P 15, G 0, A 4.
Overall
P 146, G 6, A 15
Looks like he likes a shot but isn't particularly accurate then.
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Alex Moreno has had the most shots of any full-back in LaLiga since the start of last season (40)
How many goals has he scored?
6 I think? Someone put his G/A stats earlier in the thread.
Last season
Played 30, Goals 5, Assists 4.
This season
P 15, G 0, A 4.
Overall
P 146, G 6, A 15
Looks like he likes a shot but isn't particularly accurate then.
5 goals from 40 shots makes him slightly above average (for all players, not just fullbacks), I can't be arsed to checkif this is still right (it won't be far off) but for years the average has been just short of 1 goal for every 3 shots on target and just short of 1 shot on target for every 3 attempted (so it works out as 1 goal for something around 8.8 shots), so a scoring record of 1 in 8 is pretty decent.
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Seems a good player.
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Ha ha, I love these type of random posts especially when they’re put up on the wrong thread
They humanise the forum site a bit
I hope Dave's car isn't a LOTUS.
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This is an excellent post off Facebook ( by someone who only posts very reasoned Villa Posts )
So just a little look at why Emery might be looking to sign Alex Moreno and why he may not be happy with Digne's output...
I'll preface this by saying I think Digne is a good player...and we've got 10 points in 15 with him in the side...he's not a problem...rather just someone who can be improved upon...
Digne at Everton had a very impressive 22 goal contributions in his first three seasons at Everton...those are fantastic numbers...he was also one of the most active crossers...and at Everton he had the luxury of having both Richarlison and DCL to cross to...he was Everton's leading assist provider for each of those seasons...it's a rare example of solid recruitment on Everton's part...they realised their strikers were good in the air so found someone who can cross well...
It's why I feel a bid for Digne tbf...cos he also crosses a lot when he plays for us...but we don't have strikers who are good in the air...he's still in the top 14% percentile for number of crosses a game...but this season he has 0 assists...he ranks in the bottom 28% for chance creation from open play when measured against other full backs...
So far from open play under Emery he's created 5 chances...4 of those were in the Liverpool game...an average of one chance a game...
Full backs are crucial to how Emery teams play...and to give an example let's look at Alfonso Pedraza who was his left back at Villarreal...
Last season Pedraza had 8 goal contributions in 19 starts...he ranks in the top 1% for goals scored...and the top 7% for assists...
And here's one of his main assets...he dribbles...he ranks in the top 7% for dribbles attempted...and the top 6% for goals created as a result of his dribbling...all his goal creations were a result of his dribbling...beat your man...get the the byline...cut it back...or someone passes it into space and Pedraza uses his pace to run onto it and get it the box either for a cut back or to shoot...
Digne hasn't attempted a single dribble all season...it's not his game...and you're certainly not passing into space for him to run onto...he doesn't have the pace for it...
In short as it stands Digne is not an attacking option for us...and in Emery's teams especially in games against 'lesser' teams he has an attacking left back...
So does Moreno fit?...very much so...
So the stuff that stats doesn't show...he is really quick...so you can ping the ball into space for him to run onto...either for him to score or to assist...
He ranks in the top 8% for assists this season...he ranks in the top 7% also for dribbles...
Now he ranks in the top 10% for shot creating actions as a result of his dribbling...
He also has the addition of being a high volume shooter...ie ball into space...he runs into the box...he scored 5 goals last season...
As it stands currently we have a very defensive back 4...and for Emery's system to work properly one aspect that has to be addressed is making sure that left back is an attacking option...and an outball...
What's worth noting is I don't think this necessarily means Digne doesn't have a role to play...he's actually a good defender imo...he's good in the air...he's a decent one on one defender...
In the Champions League Emery went with a more defensive left back in Estupinan...so it's entirely possible Digne might be used in a similar way...I mean he wasn't an issue against Man Utd for example...but against Wolves he stood out...that's the type of game where say Moreno would have been infinitely more useful...
Some have found it odd that Emery is looking for a left back so I felt it might be instructive to explain why he is doing that...and also why Moreno specifically is someone he is looking to land...
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What I have noticed in recent games is that Bailey is positioned out wide on the right, but we don't have anyone in a similar position on the left. Therefore we have been reliant on the left-back providing attacking width.
I thought in the first half against Wolves, Digne was very isolated on the left and had very few options when he got the ball.
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I thought it was a little strange to identify this area as our first signing but with the details that you have posted it makes a lot of sense.
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Footy gets around a bit doesn't he.
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(https://i.ibb.co/gWLkrL0/Screenshot-20230110-155707-Twitter.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gWLkrL0)
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Hopefully we will get someone in the box to be able to cross to. Against Stevenage, I was shouting at the TV for Augustinsson to cross the ball in with his left foot on several occasions. But there was nobody to cross to, so he cut back & passed the ball backwards & we moved the ball across the back line to get into the same position on the opposite side with Bailey, & then the attack broke down as he tried to shift the ball onto his left foot.. Rinse & repeat at half speed...
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This is an excellent post off Facebook ( by someone who only posts very reasoned Villa Posts )
So just a little look at why Emery might be looking to sign Alex Moreno and why he may not be happy with Digne's output...
I'll preface this by saying I think Digne is a good player...and we've got 10 points in 15 with him in the side...he's not a problem...rather just someone who can be improved upon...
Digne at Everton had a very impressive 22 goal contributions in his first three seasons at Everton...those are fantastic numbers...he was also one of the most active crossers...and at Everton he had the luxury of having both Richarlison and DCL to cross to...he was Everton's leading assist provider for each of those seasons...it's a rare example of solid recruitment on Everton's part...they realised their strikers were good in the air so found someone who can cross well...
It's why I feel a bid for Digne tbf...cos he also crosses a lot when he plays for us...but we don't have strikers who are good in the air...he's still in the top 14% percentile for number of crosses a game...but this season he has 0 assists...he ranks in the bottom 28% for chance creation from open play when measured against other full backs...
So far from open play under Emery he's created 5 chances...4 of those were in the Liverpool game...an average of one chance a game...
Full backs are crucial to how Emery teams play...and to give an example let's look at Alfonso Pedraza who was his left back at Villarreal...
Last season Pedraza had 8 goal contributions in 19 starts...he ranks in the top 1% for goals scored...and the top 7% for assists...
And here's one of his main assets...he dribbles...he ranks in the top 7% for dribbles attempted...and the top 6% for goals created as a result of his dribbling...all his goal creations were a result of his dribbling...beat your man...get the the byline...cut it back...or someone passes it into space and Pedraza uses his pace to run onto it and get it the box either for a cut back or to shoot...
Digne hasn't attempted a single dribble all season...it's not his game...and you're certainly not passing into space for him to run onto...he doesn't have the pace for it...
In short as it stands Digne is not an attacking option for us...and in Emery's teams especially in games against 'lesser' teams he has an attacking left back...
So does Moreno fit?...very much so...
So the stuff that stats doesn't show...he is really quick...so you can ping the ball into space for him to run onto...either for him to score or to assist...
He ranks in the top 8% for assists this season...he ranks in the top 7% also for dribbles...
Now he ranks in the top 10% for shot creating actions as a result of his dribbling...
He also has the addition of being a high volume shooter...ie ball into space...he runs into the box...he scored 5 goals last season...
As it stands currently we have a very defensive back 4...and for Emery's system to work properly one aspect that has to be addressed is making sure that left back is an attacking option...and an outball...
What's worth noting is I don't think this necessarily means Digne doesn't have a role to play...he's actually a good defender imo...he's good in the air...he's a decent one on one defender...
In the Champions League Emery went with a more defensive left back in Estupinan...so it's entirely possible Digne might be used in a similar way...I mean he wasn't an issue against Man Utd for example...but against Wolves he stood out...that's the type of game where say Moreno would have been infinitely more useful...
Some have found it odd that Emery is looking for a left back so I felt it might be instructive to explain why he is doing that...and also why Moreno specifically is someone he is looking to land...
To take that at face value - and I have no reason not to - it does make you wonder what the fuck the last guy was up to. He wanted all our attacking to come from the fullbacks, gets rid of all the wingers, and spends big money on a fullback that can't attack. Genius.
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(https://i.ibb.co/gWLkrL0/Screenshot-20230110-155707-Twitter.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gWLkrL0)
So you're getting more crosses and chances created with Digne, but better defensive stats with Moreno? Looking at those I'd rather stick with Digne.
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The dribbles one got me, going past opponents cracks the game open and makes space
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(https://i.ibb.co/gWLkrL0/Screenshot-20230110-155707-Twitter.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gWLkrL0)
So you're getting more crosses and chances created with Digne, but better defensive stats with Moreno? Looking at those I'd rather stick with Digne.
Phew…glad it’s not just me that’s a bit confused by those stats. Have some of the numbers been transposed?
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We have lack dribbling since what his face left.
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This is an excellent post off Facebook ( by someone who only posts very reasoned Villa Posts )
So just a little look at why Emery might be looking to sign Alex Moreno ...
Some have found it odd that Emery is looking for a left back so I felt it might be instructive to explain why he is doing that...and also why Moreno specifically is someone he is looking to land...
Now that, FV, is useful analysis.
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The dribbles one got me, going past opponents cracks the game open and makes space
Yep, makes a change from pass to full back, pass back to centre back etc etc.
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(https://i.ibb.co/gWLkrL0/Screenshot-20230110-155707-Twitter.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gWLkrL0)
So you're getting more crosses and chances created with Digne, but better defensive stats with Moreno? Looking at those I'd rather stick with Digne.
Phew…glad it’s not just me that’s a bit confused by those stats. Have some of the numbers been transposed?
Not sure, but I was surprised too. I guess the stats show that Digne has a good delivery, but can't get himself into a position to cross.
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Anyone who has been watching us this season will say that our play is just far too slow!
When the central defenders or the central midfielders have the ball, invariably they have nowhere to go,so play backwards or go endlessly back and forth across the pitch! --it is sooo frustrating to watch (the Stevenage game was the worst!),but getting the ball wide and around the back is the answer.
I think it is clear that opposition teams,particularly at VP, know our weakness in wide areas and block out the centre of defence -----at home, Ings and Watkins run all day for a ball that never comes...
Bailey will never be a top wide player if he won't go down the outside flanks--it's like Bertrand Traore all over again!
So, a winger and new full backs who can cross the ball for me and a Mitrovic-like centre forward who's good in the air.
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Obviously stats don't paint a complete picture, but surely chances created is about as important a stat as it's possible to get? It's not really Digne's fault that most of the time Watkins couldn't trap a bag of wet cement.
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Interesting comparison. I must admit Digne would've been pretty far down my list of players that need replacing.
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This guy plays at full back and on the wing I think? So my guess is that we'll perhaps see him further forward.
I'd much, much rather get a proper winger, than a sometimes winger who mainly plays in defence. Hopefully we'll get both of course.
Yes indeed. Defenders can not turn into flying winger specially at 30 but I know nothing about this chap. So welcome Alex.
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Should be formalized tomorrow. Eastie just told me his plane landed in Birmingham and his Mrs is wearing a dress designed by Versace*
*the last bit about his wife is possibly made up.
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Elena has always been more of a Dior woman. Their kids, Nacho and Clara, like Slazenger Sport for travelling in.
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Hopefully we will get someone in the box to be able to cross to. Against Stevenage, I was shouting at the TV for Augustinsson to cross the ball in with his left foot on several occasions. But there was nobody to cross to, so he cut back & passed the ball backwards & we moved the ball across the back line to get into the same position on the opposite side with Bailey, & then the attack broke down as he tried to shift the ball onto his left foot.. Rinse & repeat at half speed...
same here
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Bailey will never be a top wide player if he won't go down the outside flanks--it's like Bertrand Traore all over again!
It does t help as he’s played on the right so always needs to cut back onto his left. If he played on his stronger side, even for periods during the game, he’d more likely get to the line and provide crosses more often.
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Elena has always been more of a Dior woman. Their kids, Nacho and Clara, like Slazenger Sport for travelling in.
Elena does her washing on a Monday morning at 10.45am, prefers line drying over machine and favours a tanga style brief, two blue pairs and three black.
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This potential transfer worries me as to where we’re going. It’s another 29 year old with no resale value and not an upgrade on a 46 capped French international we already have in that position. Digne isn’t the problem. The problem is we don’t have a target man for him to cross to and he doesn’t have a collaborator in front of him that will get the best out of what he can offer. I’m also not keen on full backs being wingers or covering a great part of that role which is what Bello offers. If such players were good enough to be wingers they’d be playing there.
The other thing that bothers me is that this in an Emery signing. I have trust in Emery of course. It’s not that. But we need club led signings otherwise we just end up accumulating players essentially bought by a series of different managers (see Coutinho). It’s why we went from wingers to no wingers from one manager to the next. Now we need them again. This is where Everton are at now and where we could be heading. If Lange isn’t working in a way that benefits the club, replace him. Otherwise, I’m not sure what his role is.
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Replace him anyway. He should have been sacked after that Gerrard vanity project debacle.
Edit- It wasn't Lange, it was Purslow who should be sacked for that. My mistake.
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This potential transfer worries me as to where we’re going. It’s another 29 year old with no resale value and not an upgrade on a 46 capped French international we already have in that position. Digne isn’t the problem. The problem is we don’t have a target man for him to cross to and he doesn’t have a collaborator in front of him that will get the best out of what he can offer. I’m also not keen on full backs being wingers or covering a great part of that role which is what Bello offers. If such players were good enough to be wingers they’d be playing there.
The other thing that bothers me is that this in an Emery signing. I have trust in Emery of course. It’s not that. But we need club led signings otherwise we just end up accumulating players essentially bought by a series of different managers (see Coutinho). It’s why we went from wingers to no wingers from one manager to the next. Now we need them again. This is where Everton are at now and where we could be heading. If Lange isn’t working in a way that benefits the club, replace him. Otherwise, I’m not sure what his role is.
Exactly the same for me, and it's bothering me. I hope he's brilliant and all that but replacing an expensive 29 year old LB after 12 months with another 29 year LB doesn't seem like joined up thinking to me. For me one of the major plus points of getting a manager of Emerys calibre was that he'd improve the players that we already have here instead of having to replace them.
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That's very true Luke, but it might also be about their attitude and willingness to be coached. My own hindsight is a wonderful thing in that, he certainly hasn't lit the place up. Another really expensive mistake, although really thought this was a class signing when it happened. Hopefully, we haven't agreed to sign Digne, part deux, or part dos!
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This potential transfer worries me as to where we’re going. It’s another 29 year old with no resale value and not an upgrade on a 46 capped French international we already have in that position. Digne isn’t the problem. The problem is we don’t have a target man for him to cross to and he doesn’t have a collaborator in front of him that will get the best out of what he can offer. I’m also not keen on full backs being wingers or covering a great part of that role which is what Bello offers. If such players were good enough to be wingers they’d be playing there.
The other thing that bothers me is that this in an Emery signing. I have trust in Emery of course. It’s not that. But we need club led signings otherwise we just end up accumulating players essentially bought by a series of different managers (see Coutinho). It’s why we went from wingers to no wingers from one manager to the next. Now we need them again. This is where Everton are at now and where we could be heading. If Lange isn’t working in a way that benefits the club, replace him. Otherwise, I’m not sure what his role is.
Exactly the same for me, and it's bothering me. I hope he's brilliant and all that but replacing an expensive 29 year old LB after 12 months with another 29 year LB doesn't seem like joined up thinking to me. For me one of the major plus points of getting a manager of Emerys calibre was that he'd improve the players that we already have here instead of having to replace them.
This links in to what exactly is Lange’s role at the club. It’s not something that is transparent and it doesn’t have the same power as at other clubs in a similar capacity. This what undid Everton with Marcel Brands who had a title but wasn’t given the power required in the role. Just as Brands didn’t appoint Ancelotti and the subsequent signing of James Rodriguez, Lange clearly didn’t appoint Gerrard and sign Coutinho (surely Purslow) and it looks as though our owners directly got involved and appointed Emery. Successful clubs work to a model that continues despite a change in personnel. Your Ajax’s and the club I always say Villa should look to mirror-Sevilla.
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Replace him anyway. He should have been sacked after that Gerrard vanity project debacle.
I doubt Lange had much say in the likes of Kamara, Coutinho or Digne. Gerrard to be fair very much led those signings and was key in getting them in. Ings to be fair had all the signs of a Purslow solo run.
Squad filler like Olsen, Augustinson, Dendoncker would have been Lange's remit in recent times. Sarr too, obviously Gerrard pulled the plug on that which was his right, but just illustrated the chaos behind the scenes. Signing a 29yr old left back after we recently signed two of them suggests little has changed in that regard.
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The dribbles one got me, going past opponents cracks the game open and makes space
Especially if the full-backs are the ones providing the attacking width. For years now, we've had players who faced with an opponent in a one-on-one situation, turn and play the ball backwards every time.
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The dribbles one got me, going past opponents cracks the game open and makes space
Especially if the full-backs are the ones providing the attacking width. For years now, we've had players who faced with an opponent in a one-on-one situation, turn and play the ball backwards every time.
Except Grealish
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Should be formalized tomorrow. Eastie just told me his plane landed in Birmingham and his Mrs is wearing a dress designed by Versace*
*the last bit about his wife is possibly made up.
Do we know if his Grandma Rita is travelling with him to sing a song for us?
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The dribbles one got me, going past opponents cracks the game open and makes space
Especially if the full-backs are the ones providing the attacking width. For years now, we've had players who faced with an opponent in a one-on-one situation, turn and play the ball backwards every time.
Except Grealish
He wasn't too bad I guess and that was with Matt Targett behind him providing the width while Grealish came in field. To be honest I'd prefer if we stopped focusing on crosses as our primary means of creating chances. Digne is well able to cross the ball as per his assists tally at Everton pre Benitez and I'm surprised to see he got 4 for us last season after he came in. But he's lightweight, no recovery pace and a weak defender. We saw v Wolves it's pretty pointless slinging in deep crosses for Watkins up against 3 or 4 players. Need to change focus of our attacks.
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The dribbles one got me, going past opponents cracks the game open and makes space
Especially if the full-backs are the ones providing the attacking width. For years now, we've had players who faced with an opponent in a one-on-one situation, turn and play the ball backwards every time.
Except Grealish
Sorry, meant full-backs. Very rarely see them even try and attempt to take on their opponent. Instead they turn and play the ball backwards meaning that we often end up going from the edge of our opponents' box back into our own half and on occasions, back to our own keeper.
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My great Celta Vigo supporting mate reckons he's brilliant. I'll take that from someone who for some reason despises Betis.
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The dribbles one got me, going past opponents cracks the game open and makes space
Especially if the full-backs are the ones providing the attacking width. For years now, we've had players who faced with an opponent in a one-on-one situation, turn and play the ball backwards every time.
Except Grealish
He wasn't too bad I guess and that was with Matt Targett behind him providing the width while Grealish came in field. To be honest I'd prefer if we stopped focusing on crosses as our primary means of creating chances. Digne is well able to cross the ball as per his assists tally at Everton pre Benitez and I'm surprised to see he got 4 for us last season after he came in. But he's lightweight, no recovery pace and a weak defender. We saw v Wolves it's pretty pointless slinging in deep crosses for Watkins up against 3 or 4 players. Need to change focus of our attacks.
I think that’s why we’re signing this guy. He’s meant to be far more of a dribbler/runner down the line and cut it back than a crosser like Digne, which feels more suited to the attackers we have tbh so hopefully it’s worthwhile.
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Ever since our interest in a left back from Spain has been announced, I have been having flashbacks of Tony Moon.
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The best way to defend against Villa is to pack the middle of the park. We don't move the ball quickly enough to exploit any space out wide, and we don't have any height up front to score from crosses. Hopefully, Moreno will help rectify this. His pace can't be ignored by the opposition - they either have to leave someone out wide with him, which will create more space in the middle, or hope that we can't find him with a cross-field pass, that gets him in behind. As good as Digne is on the ball, he just isn't quick enough to exploit the few yards of space that he often finds himself in, so he invariably comes back to Tyrone.
I'm sure there is more to the signing than my basic understanding of our tactics but, to me, this signing makes perfect sense. It could drastically change the way we play.
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My great Celta Vigo supporting mate reckons he's brilliant. I'll take that from someone who for some reason despises Betis.
I think a lot of people are underestimating how highly Moreno is rated in Spain. He seems to be considered one of the best fullbacks in the league. More to the point Emery clearly sees something in him that suits how he wants to play, whether that's pace, the ability to beat a man or both.
I'm also concerned about the age prfofile of a number of our recent signings, but for £13m it's not a particularly big gamble for the first piece of Emery's jigsaw. You only need to look at the huge impact Trippier has had at Newcastle (now 32) to realise that at 29 we can get more than our monies worth out of Moreno.
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My great Celta Vigo supporting mate reckons he's brilliant. I'll take that from someone who for some reason despises Betis.
I think a lot of people are underestimating how highly Moreno is rated in Spain. He seems to be considered one of the best fullbacks in the league. More to the point Emery clearly sees something in him that suits how he wants to play, whether that's pace, the ability to beat a man or both.
I'm also concerned about the age prfofile of a number of our recent signings, but for £13m it's not a particularly big gamble for the first piece of Emery's jigsaw. You only need to look at the huge impact Trippier has had at Newcastle (now 32) to realise that at 29 we can get more than our monies worth out of Moreno.
I think we also have to consider what Emery is saying about adding new 'characteristics' to the squad with our next signings. He wants players who offer something different so he has options and can tweak the side and tactics in more ways than he currently can. Digne and Moreno will give him that in an important position and let him choose between options for each opponent.
Though it is a bit galling that in 3.5 seasons in the Premier League, we'll have spent £50m on left backs!
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to be fair we made a profit on Targett, so can't really complain about that. I'd be surprised if Digne is still here next season, but yes we'll take a hit on his fee for sure.
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https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1613107449854132225?s=46&t=TrDwUsSry_fANt6Nq_9jJw
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https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1613107449854132225?s=46&t=TrDwUsSry_fANt6Nq_9jJw
Every fucking deal he annouces is followed by some twat underneath asking about some random player linked with Arsenal.
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My great Celta Vigo supporting mate reckons he's brilliant. I'll take that from someone who for some reason despises Betis.
I think a lot of people are underestimating how highly Moreno is rated in Spain. He seems to be considered one of the best fullbacks in the league. More to the point Emery clearly sees something in him that suits how he wants to play, whether that's pace, the ability to beat a man or both.
I'm also concerned about the age prfofile of a number of our recent signings, but for £13m it's not a particularly big gamble for the first piece of Emery's jigsaw. You only need to look at the huge impact Trippier has had at Newcastle (now 32) to realise that at 29 we can get more than our monies worth out of Moreno.
Every single Spanish person I have spoken to on another forum rave about him.
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Alllllll the left backs, so many left backs!
And they all go in the bin, when the next new boss walks in!
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Villa Park life
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Well, if he's any good then he's very welcome of course. It just seems we've gone to a lot of trouble and a fair bit of cash upgrading left back from Targett -> Digne -> Moreno, for what looks like marginal gains, and yet left other more pressing positions like the wing a bit more threadbare.
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to be fair we made a profit on Targett, so can't really complain about that. I'd be surprised if Digne is still here next season, but yes we'll take a hit on his fee for sure.
I thought we bought Targett for £15m and sold him for £12.5m or similar.
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Widely reported that we paid £11.5m and sold him for £15m.
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Well, if he's any good then he's very welcome of course. It just seems we've gone to a lot of trouble and a fair bit of cash upgrading left back from Targett -> Digne -> Moreno, for what looks like marginal gains, and yet left other more pressing positions like the wing a bit more threadbare.
From the clips I’ve seen he’s a very different type of fullback to any of his predecessors, quicker and far more attack minded. If he plays in the same way for us I think it could give us more than a marginal gain.
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Well, if he's any good then he's very welcome of course. It just seems we've gone to a lot of trouble and a fair bit of cash upgrading left back from Targett -> Digne -> Moreno, for what looks like marginal gains, and yet left other more pressing positions like the wing a bit more threadbare.
It may be that a winger is top priority but the deal to buy a full back with a modest release clause was much easier to complete.
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Well, if he's any good then he's very welcome of course. It just seems we've gone to a lot of trouble and a fair bit of cash upgrading left back from Targett -> Digne -> Moreno, for what looks like marginal gains, and yet left other more pressing positions like the wing a bit more threadbare.
Yeah, i'm scratching my head a bit as well, and as others have pointed out we've made so many poor signings full stop over the past 10+ years and particularly from overseas that it's now quite difficult to get enthusiastic about new signings like this. That said, welcome to him indeed and i hope he proves to be the significant improvement on Digne that we hope he will. Not that Digne is really too bad in the first place.
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Well, if he's any good then he's very welcome of course. It just seems we've gone to a lot of trouble and a fair bit of cash upgrading left back from Targett -> Digne -> Moreno, for what looks like marginal gains, and yet left other more pressing positions like the wing a bit more threadbare.
Yeah, i'm scratching my head a bit as well, and as others have pointed out we've made so many poor signings full stop over the past 10+ years and particularly from overseas that it's now quite difficult to get enthusiastic about new signings like this. That said, welcome to him indeed and i hope he proves to be the significant improvement on Digne that we hope he will. Not that Digne is really too bad in the first place.
Maybe Emery saw this as an easy deal to complete and figured, in the short term, Moreno may help with the winger/wide midfielder issues.
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Well, if he's any good then he's very welcome of course. It just seems we've gone to a lot of trouble and a fair bit of cash upgrading left back from Targett -> Digne -> Moreno, for what looks like marginal gains, and yet left other more pressing positions like the wing a bit more threadbare.
Yeah, i'm scratching my head a bit as well, and as others have pointed out we've made so many poor signings full stop over the past 10+ years and particularly from overseas that it's now quite difficult to get enthusiastic about new signings like this. That said, welcome to him indeed and i hope he proves to be the significant improvement on Digne that we hope he will. Not that Digne is really too bad in the first place.
Maybe Emery saw this as an easy deal to complete and figured, in the short term, Moreno may help with the winger/wide midfielder issues.
Maybe, and he could end up being a star Paul. Not a moan, but there's a bit of 'we've been here before' and i'll wait to see him play a bit before i get enthusiastic.
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The Spanish football expert who they have just had on SKY - rates him very highly and says that he is ideal for the way that Emery wants his team to play.
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If you watch the latest Holy Trinity review of Stevenage, towards the end of the broadcast Pete the Canadian alludes to a potential to play 3 at the back with Mings, Carlo, Konsa and the likes of Moreno and Cash being wing backs.
There could certainly be some measure in that as i am not sure why so many on here are so dead against it.
I thought we had a wonderful attacking team under Little with that approach
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If you watch the latest Holy Trinity review of Stevenage, towards the end of the broadcast Pete the Canadian alludes to a potential to play 3 at the back with Mings, Carlo, Konsa and the likes of Moreno and Cash being wing backs.
There could certainly be some measure in that
Urgh, no thanks.
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Tell Pete he can get fucked
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Tell Pete he can get fucked
Was he the one who did that hilariously shit badge?
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If you watch the latest Holy Trinity review of Stevenage, towards the end of the broadcast Pete the Canadian alludes to a potential to play 3 at the back with Mings, Carlo, Konsa and the likes of Moreno and Cash being wing backs.
There could certainly be some measure in that as i am not sure why so many on here are so dead against it.
I thought we had a wonderful attacking team under Little with that approach
The very simple reason why so many are against it is that 433 (or some variant of it, including the assymetrical 442 we're using right now) gives you the option to have a highly competent DM who can step back and help out (i.e. Kamara) but is fundamentally a ball playing central midfielder. In a back 3/5 you are either:
removing that player and adding an almost certainly less technical centre back in his place.
moving that player into a permanently deeper role and reducing their impact going forward.
OR
putting another central defender behind that player at the expense of a more positive midfielder.
None of these are positive changes and none of them result in any significant improvement in the ability of the team to defend or protect the fullbacks.
The only version of a back 3 that I like is a 343 where the wide midfielders are genuinely midfielders/wingers (so for us you'd have Buendia on one side for example) playing behind 2 more genuine wingers and relying on the back 3 and the 2 in front to do most of the defensive work. I've only seen 1-2 teams ever do that though.
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Very highly rated, also totally different in approach to any full back we've maybe ever had - aggressive, fast and takes people on. Gets to the by line a lot - will press opposition full backs up the pitch and will also be a good out ball for us. Good signing IMO
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Tell Pete he can get fucked
Was he the one who did that hilariously shit badge?
The rusty sheriff's badge one? Yeah
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He looks like Adama Traore with an end-product, albeit a slimmer and less oily version.
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I’m a little surprised for as highly as he’s been rated in Spain he’s not won any senior caps.
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Who is the first choice for the Spanish team, still Alba?
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Who is the first choice for the Spanish team, still Alba?
Usually Gaya from Valencia these days, but Alba is still knocking about.
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Tell Pete he can get fucked
Was he the one who did that hilariously shit badge?
Yes, but in fairness most of his stuff is pretty good, he does know his stuff.
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A little bit of Neil Taylor in my life, a little bit of Matt targett by my side
A little bit of digne is all I need a little bit of Ashley young I’d what I see
A little bit of cissokho in the sun a little bit of Richardson all night long
A little bit of Augustinsson here I am
A little bit of Bree makes me your left back man
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very good!
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A little bit of Neil Taylor in my life, a little bit of Matt targett by my side
A little bit of digne is all I need a little bit of Ashley young I’d what I see
A little bit of cissokho in the sun a little bit of Richardson all night long
A little bit of Augustinsson here I am
A little bit of Bree makes me your left back man
Mings is No.5?
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A little bit of Neil Taylor in my life, a little bit of Matt targett by my side
A little bit of digne is all I need a little bit of Ashley young I’d what I see
A little bit of cissokho in the sun a little bit of Richardson all night long
A little bit of Augustinsson here I am
A little bit of Bree makes me your left back man
Brilliant
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Tell Pete he can get fucked
Was he the one who did that hilariously shit badge?
The rusty sheriff's badge one? Yeah
Yes but he's an affable chap with excellent communication skills.
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Tell Pete he can get fucked
Was he the one who did that hilariously shit badge?
The rusty sheriff's badge one? Yeah
Yes but he's an affable chap with excellent communication skills.
The Suede lyric that, understandably, never made it on to a record.
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A little bit of Neil Taylor in my life, a little bit of Matt targett by my side
A little bit of digne is all I need a little bit of Ashley young I’d what I see
A little bit of cissokho in the sun a little bit of Richardson all night long
A little bit of Augustinsson here I am
A little bit of Bree makes me your left back man
Superb!
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I like what I'm hearing about Moreno....but will he be as good as Charlie Aitken?
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Tell Pete he can get fucked
Was he the one who did that hilariously shit badge?
The rusty sheriff's badge one? Yeah
Yes but he's an affable chap with excellent communication skills.
The Suede lyric that, understandably, never made it on to a record.
I think Blur managed to use "affable" on Modern Life Is Rubbish. Colin Zeal?
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Yes, I did think that when I looked.
He's an affable man with a carotine tan?
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Signed
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Shirt stretched. It’s official.
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Welcome to Aston Villa Alex.
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Yes, I did think that when I looked.
He's an affable man with a carotine tan?
With a plausible plan.
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Welcome. Please be good.
The Emery era is here 8)
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done deal. Good stretch
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FmNHzl_XEAgGeMc?format=jpg&name=small)
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He's not ITSOTP though....
Nice one.... Next!
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He's a handsome devil.
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Welcome Álex! Hopefully an upgrade on the left side of the pitch.
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6/10 shirt stretch, welcome to the club.
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Is he any good in goal?
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I hope he stretches opposition defences more than the shirt.
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Welcome Alex!
Please be brilliant for the best team in the World!
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I wonder what his number will be... He was 15 at Betis and as Traore is gone I guess he'll go for that.
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He’s been given 15
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Welcome young man to the greatest club in the world.
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He's a handsome devil.
Yes but not as gorgeous as Charlie Atkin.
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I like what I'm hearing about Moreno....but will he be as good as Charlie Aitken?
Nobody's as good as Charlie.
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Welcome to our great club Alex.
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Welcome to our club, and a new era
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Will he start Friday?
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https://twitter.com/avfcofficial/status/1613223863919251469?s=61&t=IxNYjkZYppItbMUzK36K0g
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I am pleased about this. He is rated highly in Spain, he has pace, he has energy, he likes to drive forward & he was cheap.
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Welcome to the Villa
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Welcome Alex. Please be bloody brilliant.
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He's a handsome devil.
Even I felt a little twitch…and I’m as straight as Oscar Wilde, Big, bearded, bonking, butch Oscar. The terror of the ladies. 114 illegitimate children, world heavyweight boxing champion and author of the best-selling pamphlet "Why I Like To Do It With Girls."
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Good luck Alex. It is though most odd, that we are now in the position of having four experienced left backs on our books, in Moreno, Digne, Augustinsson and Young.
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He's a handsome devil.
Even I felt a little twitch…and I’m as straight as Oscar Wilde, Big, bearded, bonking, butch Oscar. The terror of the ladies. 114 illegitimate children, world heavyweight boxing champion and author of the best-selling pamphlet "Why I Like To Do It With Girls."
Poof!
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Good luck Alex. It is though most odd, that we are now in the position of having four experienced left backs on our books, in Moreno, Digne, Augustinsson and Young.
Augustinsson is a loan so he’ll be gone soon
Young is a squad player given his age
Serious competition for Digne which is what we need all over the pitch if we want to get where we want to get
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He's a handsome devil.
Even I felt a little twitch…and I’m as straight as Oscar Wilde, Big, bearded, bonking, butch Oscar. The terror of the ladies. 114 illegitimate children, world heavyweight boxing champion and author of the best-selling pamphlet "Why I Like To Do It With Girls."
Blackadder I think :-)
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He's a handsome devil.
Even I felt a little twitch…and I’m as straight as Oscar Wilde, Big, bearded, bonking, butch Oscar. The terror of the ladies. 114 illegitimate children, world heavyweight boxing champion and author of the best-selling pamphlet "Why I Like To Do It With Girls."
Blackadder I think :-)
Absolutely
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Welcome Alex. You have two games to prove yourself, probably.
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Welcome Alex. You have two games to prove yourself, probably.
You’ve gone soft. He needs to avoid boos at HT
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Ace our kid! Don't fanny around at the back line your teammates!
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Good luck Alex. It is though most odd, that we are now in the position of having four experienced left backs on our books, in Moreno, Digne, Augustinsson and Young.
Given he’s injured and not that good, i doubt old Ludwig will ever play for us again.
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Be good please Alex.
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I’m a little surprised for as highly as he’s been rated in Spain he’s not won any senior caps.
I was wondering the same. Balde the young kid from Barcelona was a late call up for the World Cup squad in that position.
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Welcome Alex. You have two games to prove yourself, probably.
A few on here gave up on the Donk after about 10 mins! Hopefully Emery has something up his sleeve tactically on how to use Moreno to improve the team. I just don't think it was a position we immediately needed to improve upon.
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I'm hoping we've already lined up a replacement.
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Welcome Alex. You have two games to prove yourself, probably.
A few on here gave up on the Donk after about 10 mins! Hopefully Emery has something up his sleeve tactically on how to use Moreno to improve the team. I just don't think it was a position we immediately needed to improve upon.
It might be that he slots in just in front of Digne and they both play.
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Welcome Alex. You have two games to prove yourself, probably.
A few on here gave up on the Donk after about 10 mins! Hopefully Emery has something up his sleeve tactically on how to use Moreno to improve the team. I just don't think it was a position we immediately needed to improve upon.
It might be that he slots in just in front of Digne and they both play.
I thought the same as an option, given he doesnt seem to want Bailey in the left and Beundia is to slow to play there
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Welcome Alex. You have two games to prove yourself, probably.
A few on here gave up on the Donk after about 10 mins! Hopefully Emery has something up his sleeve tactically on how to use Moreno to improve the team. I just don't think it was a position we immediately needed to improve upon.
It might be that he slots in just in front of Digne and they both play.
I thought the same as an option, given he doesnt seem to want Bailey in the left and Beundia is to slow to play there
The pace thing shouldn't be underestimated. Even though Doug and Little Emi (plus SJM to a certain extent) are all pretty good on the ball in the midfield area, they are all quite one-paced. The only midfielder we have who seems capable of running at pace with the ball is Ramsey (I count Bailey as a forward, not a midfielder). It will be nice to have a player on the pitch who can break a line by running at pace from deep. I do find it strange we've not found a way to regularly exploit Bailey's pace. Hopefully we won't have the same issue with Moreno.
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Seems to me Bailey's pace is a bit of a myth - does he ever win a foot race against anyone? In their prime, if Daley or Agbonlahor were given a ball to chase, the whole crowd would be on its feet...
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Seems to me Bailey's pace is a bit of a myth - does he ever win a foot race against anyone? In their prime, if Daley or Agbonlahor were given a ball to chase, the whole crowd would be on its feet...
I have said similar before, he's the slowest pacey player we've ever had.
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Seems to me Bailey's pace is a bit of a myth - does he ever win a foot race against anyone? In their prime, if Daley or Agbonlahor were given a ball to chase, the whole crowd would be on its feet...
I have said similar before, he's the slowest pacey player we've ever had.
We have very little pace in our whole squad.
Ashley Young is probably the fastest player we have :D
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Seems to me Bailey's pace is a bit of a myth - does he ever win a foot race against anyone? In their prime, if Daley or Agbonlahor were given a ball to chase, the whole crowd would be on its feet...
I have said similar before, he's the slowest pacey player we've ever had.
As I've said before he's slow when he plays on the right because he's always trying to keep the route open to cut onto his left foot so he never really break into a full sprint. On the left he's far more willing to really push to the line, which is why I don't understand why we play him where we do.
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I wonder if he is a little reluctant to open up the burners after the injury he sustained at Everton (?), where his pace & blistering shot got him a thigh strain & out for a fair while...
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He burned thru the Brentford defence for that last goal at VP and that audacious bit of skill in the Milk Cup that took out half of Yanited's team.
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Seems to me Bailey's pace is a bit of a myth - does he ever win a foot race against anyone? In their prime, if Daley or Agbonlahor were given a ball to chase, the whole crowd would be on its feet...
I'm not sure it is a myth, we've seen glimpses of it. He's has the 5th fastest match sprint in Bundesliga history. The pace is there (or at least it was) I just think we're not playing in a way that relies on it. And that's okay, because playing longer balls into space for a pacey player to run onto is not only difficult, it often gives away possession, so it might be we're just not going to do much of that under a manager that values possession so highly.
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You could be the fastest man in the world, but if you can't read the game or control the bloody ball it's not much use.
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Bailey does not look quick at all to me.
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So have we had confirmation that he can play tomorrow?
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You could be the fastest man in the world, but if you can't read the game or control the bloody ball it's not much use.
(cough) Adama Traore
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Doesn't he get a free pass for boosting sales of coconut oil?
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I've got no problem with him, and we've seen on occasion how good he can be. He has the talent but like a lot of our squad he can't find any consistency, in fact he's poor a lot more often than he's good. I'm starting to wonder whether he'll ever find any for us.
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Bit of an interview with Moreno. As always our recruitment once we set our sights on a player seems excellent:
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It looks like Morei will replace Augustinsson within the squad and compete with Digne. If he's described as one of the best left backs in Spain, it makes sense to actually play him there.
Emery likes to use the whole squad, so having two quality left backs makes sense.
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Though he said he sees him playing further forward. He's also said Augustinsson is going back to Sevilla.
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Football Insider getting it spot on as per never...
Emery: "The idea is for Augustinsson is to leave, to get another option to play."
FI, only two days ago: Augustinsson, 28, is on a season-long loan from Sevilla but it is believed that Emery has been impressed by him.
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So have we had confirmation that he can play tomorrow?
BBC article says we're still awaiting clearance.
You'd expect him to be available given Chelsea signed Felix and he was playing last night.
Wouldn't shock me if we started him tbh.
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I think the deadline for paperwork was 12 yesterday. And we were sending stuff in yesterday so fingers crossed. I don't think he'll start.
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So have we had confirmation that he can play tomorrow?
BBC article says we're still awaiting clearance.
You'd expect him to be available given Chelsea signed Felix and he was playing last night.
Wouldn't shock me if we started him tbh.
One rule for one.....etc
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Football Insider getting it spot on as per never...
Emery: "The idea is for Augustinsson is to leave, to get another option to play."
FI, only two days ago: Augustinsson, 28, is on a season-long loan from Sevilla but it is believed that Emery has been impressed by him.
Those dipshits always create articles that contradict each other. They are doing nothing more than hedging their bets so they can claim they had an exclusive that was correct. Conveniently ignoring the other articles that prove them wrong. They are one of the worst basement blog football sites around...
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So have we had confirmation that he can play tomorrow?
BBC article says we're still awaiting clearance.
You'd expect him to be available given Chelsea signed Felix and he was playing last night.
Wouldn't shock me if we started him tbh.
One rule for one.....etc
Is he available?
If yes . Lets start him
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Don't be silly.
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Shaky start but a fine goal saving clearance.
Good luck second half
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He looked a bit edgy to start with, but grew into the game. Gave the ball away a few times & ran into blind alleys. Once he settled a little, he started to look a little more comfortable. Made that crucial block, albeit would have been offside if it went in, & made a few encouraging runs into the final third & actually had a shot & delivered the ball into a decent area. I think once he has had more than one days training he could become a decent member of the squad.
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Got better as the game went on, looks like with Digne Injured he may well be starting next week.
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He looked understandably a bit out of sorts when he first came on, as he's only trained with the club for about 5 minutes. Second half though, he started to show why Emery has brought him in. Looked very promising going forward.
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Really good debut.
Can already tell this lad has a good touch and very excited by some of the combinations he'll be having down the left when Kamara and Buendia drift that side.
Promising.
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Think he’ll get better and will offer us a better option to Digne who has been very underwhelming.
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Superb debut. I was very impressed with him.
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He looked understandably a bit out of sorts when he first came on, as he's only trained with the club for about 5 minutes. Second half though, he started to show why Emery has brought him in. Looked very promising going forward.
Yep, coming on when he did made for a really tough debut and he did really well to get through the shaky start and get involved. If he plays like that he'll score goals and, more importantly, he'll help the team settle in to the slightly skewed shape we're starting to develop.
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Looks like he'll be a lot better going forward than defending. Could barely do a thing right in the first half, the pace of the game seemed too much for him and he was easily shrugged-off a few times. His confidence must have grown after his goal-saving clearance, which he didn't know much about!
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Improved as the game went on and did well given he was thrown into it a bit. Showed some glimpses of how fast he can get forward - will give us another dimension.
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Tough situation to come on into and did OK considering. Think he has been brought in to fit into a particular shape and position.
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https://twitter.com/AlexMoreno/status/1614038628363296768
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Did very well. He was shaky for ten minutes or so, but that was understandable.
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Welcome Alex.
Not bad yesterday loved how you glided past that player like he was never there when you had that chance to score.
Hope you have a successful career at the mighty Villa.
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He’s going to score and set up a few from left back. He loves to get forward isn’t afraid to have a poke. So as long as we can cover his marauding runs then he’s going to a very good asset. And the way he got back for their chance in the first half was superb.
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Really pleased with his debut given he hadn’t had a kick with the team as such. By 2nd half it looked like he’d made the position his. It bodes well.
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Really pleased with history debut given he hadn’t had a kick with the team as such. By 2nd half it looked like he’d made the position his. It bodes well.
none of this he needs to get up to fittness crap
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Considering he’s only been with us for 5 minutes, he looked pretty good to me. At least he can put in a decent cross and obviously has some pace, which is much needed.
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Well played by the manager to cunningly get Digne to 'go down' after 5 minutes, worked a treat. No hanging around now to get him up to speed!
He looks like he enjoys playing at pace, plenty of little flicks and give-and-go's. The kind of player you hope will be on the end of a pass played almost blindly into space, and then he is. I just wish he'd taken a shot first-time when he had the chance when he burst through in the second half, we'd have blown the roof off if he'd netted.
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BBC Gareth Crooks casts his eye over the matches and selects his team of the weekend. Along with Emi Martinez he selected Moreno and gave an encouraging review of his performance
Alex Moreno (Aston Villa)
"It's not very often you see a defender come on as a substitute and have the sort of impact Alex Moreno had on his debut for his new club. The quality of his defending was at times quite outstanding against Leeds. The way he responded when Leeds attacker Rodrigo rounded Martinez in the Villa goal and then blocked what was a certain goal from crossing the line was superb.
Good defenders can tackle and the really good ones can see the danger and actually do something about it. Unai Emery has got everyone fired up and football at Villa Park is interesting again. "
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Ironically, he was the one playing the Leeds attacker onside for the chance that he cleared with his trailing knee.
Going forward he looks like he'll be dangerous for us, let's see if he can defend too.
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I thought once he got up to speed he looked very good. Interesting to see how he progresses once he's had time to work with the squad.
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Emery had tactical reasons for having Digne in the starting lineup.
He actually played a bluff during the press conference on way he spoke about Digne's availability and misled me into thinking Moreno would start.
That being said, Digne was lacking defensively against Leicester and Moreno when he was introduced in the second half, brought some fantastic contributions and offensiveness. AM was at fault for conceding a goal however.
Although he doesn't exactly inspire anything overly solid in his defence, there are many things to like about him. Particularly, whenhe brings the ball forward is exciting.
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Emery had tactical reasons for having Digne in the starting lineup.
He actually played a bluff during the press conference on way he spoke about Digne's availability and misled me into thinking Moreno would start.
That being said, Digne was lacking defensively against Leicester and Moreno when he was introduced in the second half, brought some fantastic contributions and offensiveness. AM was at fault for conceding a goal however.
Although he doesn't exactly inspire anything overly solid in his defence, there are many things to like about him. Particularly, whenhe brings the ball forward is exciting.
I think it was your over-active imagination that misled you footy, not for the first time.
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If Mings would stop passing five yards behind him, and Buendia would stop passing fifteen yards in front of him, then Moreno would actually have a chance to get more involved in the game.
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I thought he was excellent when he came on,
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That mistake he made for the 4th was hideous.
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That mistake he made for the 4th was hideous.
It was.
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Terrible error, largely solid otherwise defensively, although most play came down the other side and there wasn't much of it.
His ability to quicken the attack and hit the byline is night and day with Digne. He does it from a deeper starting position too so compromises us less in our shape. Horrible error though. Ergh.
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He had a good half. Created chances. Shocking mistake.
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I thought he was excellent when he came on,
Mr Lambert? Is that you?
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Terrible error, largely solid otherwise defensively, although lost play came down the others idea and there wasn't much of it.
His ability to quicken the attack and hit the byline is night and day with Digne. He does it from a deeper starting position too so compromises us less in our shape. Horrible error though. Ergh.
This is it, he's more direct and therefore more enjoyable to watch than Digne. Stupid mistake aside I thought he played well. We might not have desperately needed an upgrade in that position but my gut instinct is that it is one, at least.
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I thought he was excellent when he came on,
Mr Lambert? Is that you?
Mumble mumble we go agin.
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Excellent short interview with Moreno. He mentions how the Spanish-speaking players, of course, have aided him in settling, and that he is also speaking English and wants to improve in the langauge.
https://www.avfc.co.uk/video/0_4k5dxunx
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Apart from being useful in his daily life, that will obviously be useful on the pitch as English is spoken in the Premier League. I'm not sure how many referees and and other officials use Spanish while officiating.*
*And I don't need to know to be honest.
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He doesn't need English, not sure why he's bothering to learn it. Unless, and my logic and calculations and theories lead me to this thought, he knows Emery is for the chop and we're bringing in Big Sam.
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He doesn't need English, not sure why he's bothering to learn it. Unless, and my logic and calculations and theories lead me to this thought, he knows Emery is for the chop and we're bringing in Big Sam.
"Per-cent-ages"
"Good, good, continue"
"Sec-ond ball"
"Excellent"
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Excellent short interview with Moreno. He mentions how the Spanish-speaking players, of course, have aided him in settling, and that he is also speaking English and wants to improve in the langauge.
https://www.avfc.co.uk/video/0_4k5dxunx
I like his last line: 'we must concentrate on Aston Villa'.
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A pity we don't have Mark Draper back at the club as kit-man (where he was last seen at Notts County).
His attempts at learning Spanish when we loaned him out to Rayo Vallecano were tragic ("I looked-up the word for 'pass' in the dictionary but when I kept shouting it at training, all the players gave me weird looks. Turns-out I was shouting for anyone to give me a driving license").
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A pity we don't have Mark Draper back at the club as kit-man (where he was last seen at Notts County).
His attempts at learning Spanish when we loaned him out to Rayo Vallecano were tragic ("I looked-up the word for 'pass' in the dictionary but when I kept shouting it at training, all the players gave me weird looks. Turns-out I was shouting for anyone to give me a driving license").
Wasn't it drapes who stated something like he wanted to play for one of the big Italian clubs like Inter or Barcelona?
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It was indeed. He weren't caricatured as Smiffy from The Bash Street Kids just for his looks (or was that Plug?).
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A pity we don't have Mark Draper back at the club as kit-man (where he was last seen at Notts County).
His attempts at learning Spanish when we loaned him out to Rayo Vallecano were tragic ("I looked-up the word for 'pass' in the dictionary but when I kept shouting it at training, all the players gave me weird looks. Turns-out I was shouting for anyone to give me a driving license").
As you know, if you don't know how to use a bilingual dictionary correctly, it can lead to gross misunderstandings. For “Man on!” the French shout « Ça vient ! », which could be translated as “I'm/he's/it's coming!”
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A pity we don't have Mark Draper back at the club as kit-man (where he was last seen at Notts County).
His attempts at learning Spanish when we loaned him out to Rayo Vallecano were tragic ("I looked-up the word for 'pass' in the dictionary but when I kept shouting it at training, all the players gave me weird looks. Turns-out I was shouting for anyone to give me a driving license").
As you know, if you don't know how to use a bilingual dictionary correctly, it can lead to gross misunderstandings. For “Man on!” the French shout « Ça vient ! », which could be translated as “I'm/he's/it's coming!”
Which reminds me of an incident decades ago when I went on a camping expedition to France with a mate of mine
We were in a restaurant in a remote village somewhere near the Spanish border
At the end of the meal we had a selection of cheeses with a few olives
Noting the lack of biscuits to accompany the cheese, he summoned the young waitress and, in his best French he requested “biscuits, biscuits s’il vous plait”
By way of background information, my mate had been in a car crash a few years earlier, that resulted in a scar running down one side of his face, and a wonky eye. He looked evil. In short, he was a dead ringer for Donald Pleasence.
When his request drew a blank expression from the waitress he tried another tack
Assuming that Jacobs Cream Crackers was known universally, he raised his voice another notch or two and said “crackers!…crackers!”
At this point, the waitress, confronted by an evil looking Englishman shrieked and fled into the kitchen never to reappear
We couldn’t understand what had made the waitress take flight when she heard the word “cracker” and it was only when we got back to the campsite and consulted our phrase book that we found out why
The verb to spit in French is “cracher”
So my Donald Pleasence look alike mate had been demanding that the waitress spit
I’m sure BE will have had a similar experience
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A pity we don't have Mark Draper back at the club as kit-man (where he was last seen at Notts County).
His attempts at learning Spanish when we loaned him out to Rayo Vallecano were tragic ("I looked-up the word for 'pass' in the dictionary but when I kept shouting it at training, all the players gave me weird looks. Turns-out I was shouting for anyone to give me a driving license").
As you know, if you don't know how to use a bilingual dictionary correctly, it can lead to gross misunderstandings. For “Man on!” the French shout « Ça vient ! », which could be translated as “I'm/he's/it's coming!”
I can certainly see the issue the other way round.
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Lip-reading is another fun pastime, especially when a striker misses a guilt-edged scoring chance. 'Fuck me' is a fairly universai expletive as the player looks to the sky. But with the number of Spanish speakers playing in the Premier, lip-reading 'puta madre' is a popular one, the full version of which is 'me cago en tu puta madre', rather unpleasantly translated as 'I shit on your prostitute mother', with 'puta madre' (in daily life) often substituted by 'la mar salada' - the salty sea, or 'Dios' - God (sometimes bowdlerised to 'Diez' - ten). They shit a lot these Spaniards. I know - I'm married to one.
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I've noticed a few "Putain"s from our Francophiles, too.
Anyway, Alex - he's all-action isn't he?! He recovered from being given the run-around early on. Going forward, he's a dangerous muthafuxka. Not sure how you say that in Spanish.
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I've noticed a few "Putain"s from our Francophiles, too.
Anyway, Alex - he's all-action isn't he?! He recovered from being given the run-around early on. Going forward, he's a dangerous muthafuxka. Not sure how you say that in Spanish.
I don’t know but muthafuxka is probably much easier to say.
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My MIL calls me "hijo de la gran puta", I think it's an affectionate term.
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Lovely cross for the goal
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Average so far.
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Lovely cross for the goal
Best cross I’ve seen for a while.
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He's a funny one. He was playing really badly to start with, and kept losing the ball and getting done every time by Bowen. But then goes forward and puts in an exquisite cross for the goal. At the moment it looks like a case of Moreno starting, to get the team on the front foot, then Digne replacing him second half to tighten things up.
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That's okay with me. With 5 subs available it will give the better managers more scope to pre-plan for changing a game, rather than using them in a reactionary manager. And we've got a 'better' manager.
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He's a funny one. He was playing really badly to start with, and kept losing the ball and getting done every time by Bowen. But then goes forward and puts in an exquisite cross for the goal. At the moment it looks like a case of Moreno starting, to get the team on the front foot, then Digne replacing him second half to tighten things up.
I don't think Digne tightens anything up to be honest. Bowen absolutely roasted him one time after he came on. Everton mugged us with Digne.
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Questions were asked, why did we need another left back. He had a really poor first game, shocker against Leicester at home. He's become a vital part of this team. His defensive work was excellent today and was constantly our most dangerous output. Amazing signing
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He’s improved us. A theme I think we’ll see repeated if Emery picks the signings.
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The important thing is that he gives us a bit more pace. Add to that how we are letting him get very high up the pitch and he's a huge threat that creates loads of space for us.
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He was very good yesterday and has been improving game by game. If this is the type of signing Emery is going to pull off then we’re in for a very successful few years.
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At the time I must say I thought his first half was really poor, but zooming out a bit the fact that he was in certain positions to mess up in the first place is an indication of his value.
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He's been getting better and better.
He's so attack minded, it's unbelieavable.
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Yep he does love to get forward
https://twitter.com/buendiazboyz/status/1645457440287121408?s=46&t=0-BUXD66ovTcofwrbTW4Ag
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He's been getting better and better.
He's so attack minded, it's unbelieavable.
He plays like you'd use your full-backs on FIFA.
For better or worse, and in matches where we're having the bulk of the possession then it's probably going to be for the better.
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Bailey, Traore and Buendia should have done better with those cutbacks.
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What a fucking performance and what a player this guy is!
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Think we can see why Emery wanted him.
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What a fucking performance and what a player this guy is!
He was ridiculously good. Hopefully an indicator of what an emery signing looks like.
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Absolute steal of the season. Well, after Kamara.
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Fabulous today...
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Excellent today. Have to say it, we looked a lot better without Bailey.
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Bailey stands out, and not in a good way.
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Great signing. Hopefully we can get £20 mil back for Digne.
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Brilliant player. We had the elegant flighty delicately balanced Alex as our left back and they? They had Dan fucking donkey Burns with the turning circle of an oil tanker.
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What a great signing. More of the same please. Douglas Luiz shouting 'wake up' and wake up he did. Brilliant.
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Brilliant player. We had the elegant flighty delicately balanced Alex as our left back and they? They had Dan fucking donkey Burns with the turning circle of an oil tanker.
Mings made Burns look like the donkey he is today. You can tell they were struggling when Burns got binned for Targett.
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How many times did he get to the byline today?
Excellent stuff.
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How many times did he get to the byline today?
Excellent stuff.
Did more "winger" type stuff today than Bailey has across the last ten matches.
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I loved his winding down the clock tricks right at the end. Lots of twists and turns and stepovers.
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In a performance where everyone was at least 8/10, he stood out as being most impressive. What a steal
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Brilliant player. We had the elegant flighty delicately balanced Alex as our left back and they? They had Dan fucking donkey Burns with the turning circle of an oil tanker.
Mings made Burns look like the donkey he is today. You can tell they were struggling when Burns got binned for Targett.
Fucking Martinez made their defenders look like the donkeys they are, his passing was miles better than any of them.
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It’s Burn. No ‘s’.
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He has some engine to go up and down the line. He’s a 90 minute full back, wing back and left winger all rolled into one.
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I thought a reasonable shout for MOTM.
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Magic Moreno!
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I'd love to see another Moreno on the right. Not sure Cash could be that player.
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It’s Burn. No ‘s’.
See also Mary Hopkin. She must despair.
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I'd love to see another Moreno on the right. Not sure Cash could be that player.
It would be too much though, no? We have a system that works at the moment. Not sure why the managerial genius that is Eddie Howe couldn't work it out... but maybe we will need some different options for sure!
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It’s Burn. No ‘s’.
See also Mary Hopkin. She must despair.
Nigel Spinks
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Montage
https://twitter.com/buendiazboyz/status/1647295980805521408?s=46&t=0-BUXD66ovTcofwrbTW4Ag
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Emery genius signing
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A minor point, but I can't remember anyone playing for us so obviously aware of how the offside rule works.
The second goal is the best example when McGinn *should* give it to him earlier, but there must have been a dozen times today when he bombed forward and was aware enough to reset himself, when we've seen years of players just sitting offside, getting the pass and ruining the attack.
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Made Trippier look like an old man today.
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Total opposite of the last Spanish left back signing. Tony Moon had a wonderful debut then was average at best for the rest of his appearances. Moreno was average first match and now is so good.
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He was superb today. Getting better every match for us. What a signing.
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I've no idea what's going on here but Alex and the 2 Emis seem to be enjoying themselves.
https://twitter.com/Corfaxx/status/1647354371909222407
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I've no idea what's going on here but Alex and the 2 Emis seem to be enjoying themselves.
https://twitter.com/Corfaxx/status/1647354371909222407
Blimey. Is that Diego falling through the doors?
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I've no idea what's going on here but Alex and the 2 Emis seem to be enjoying themselves.
https://twitter.com/Corfaxx/status/1647354371909222407
Blimey. Is that Diego falling through the doors?
When is a door not a door?
When it's a window.
They all seem very happy!
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Who are the two to the left, one is reflected in the mirror and someone else with a white shirt and arm tattoos?
Coutinho popped his head through the same window as well at one point.
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It’s Burn. No ‘s’.
Thank you and noted for future its Donkey, not Burn :)
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Made Trippier look like an old man today.
He was awful, off pace and inaccurate plodder.
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Well we've had a Scots Cafu-now we have a Spanish one.
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Made Trippier look like an old man today.
He was awful, off pace and inaccurate plodder.
Moreno wasn't that bad.
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He's clearly enjoying life at Villa Park, the grin on his face at the end of the match as he looked up at the Holte End said it all. Great player.
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I've no idea what's going on here but Alex and the 2 Emis seem to be enjoying themselves.
https://twitter.com/Corfaxx/status/1647354371909222407
Blimey. Is that Diego falling through the doors?
Diego has caught his foot in the door. Hope it's not the leg that's kept him out for the past 6 months.
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Thought he was well off the boil against Bournemouth (*like a fair few of the players), but was an absolute superstar yesterday.
Have never been convinced with Digne, and neither was Emery by the look of things.... That performance by Moreno yesterday was majestic - He's set the bar for the rest of the season now.
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That was some performance yesterday. He’s seems to have settled in quite nicely.
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It was a pleasure watching him play.
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Made Trippier look like an old man today.
He was awful, off pace and inaccurate plodder.
The French commentators on Canal+ noted that they hadn't seen Trippier's usual attacking ability because Aston Villa had him completely occupied with matters further back.
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It’s Burn. No ‘s’.
See also Mary Hopkin. She must despair.
Nigel Spinks
Cliff Richards.
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John Majors.
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According to the MEN Citeh want him to replace cancelo in the summer. If this happens I’m done with it all.
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I could be wrong as I'm no football analyst but does he fit Pep's new 3-2-4-1 set up? I guess they're willing to spunk 60mil on 'options' though. I'm not stressed about it. If there is any credence to it and I've not seen it myself... if he stays, great, if he doesn't, then I'm confident we'll fleece them.
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According to the MEN Citeh want him to replace cancelo in the summer. If this happens I’m done with it all.
We’ve not even given him the captaincy yet!
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Who was it on here a while back who said we should stop spending £15m on players? It just goes to show you dont always have to spend silly money. He's been great.
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Prefer Digne if we have to go defensive, but it's great to have the option.
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Who was it on here a while back who said we should stop spending £15m on players? It just goes to show you dont always have to spend silly money. He's been great.
This is a really important point. There are some brilliant players out there who are undervalued, for any number of reasons, and if we can pick up a few that we think will work in Emery's system, then I'm all for it. They won't all work out like this, obviously, but in less than six months Moreno has gone from "who?" to being subject for £50m speculation from Man City.
In Emery we trust.
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Prefer Digne if we have to go defensive, but it's great to have the option.
Though this feels intuitively right, it's notable that since Moreno came into the side we've had our best defensive run in God knows how long.
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I've not been very impressed with Digne's defensive abilities. I don't think there's much difference between he and Moreno defensively and a massive difference in their offensive play.
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I think Digne is maybe a bit stronger physically and in the tackle, but Moreno has saved at least a couple of goals by getting back into good positions and making last ditch interventions.
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I struggle to chose between them defensively.
Moreno is more prepared to run with the ball and I think Digne has maybe better delivery but that’s about it.
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Moreno is quicker, but I think part of the reason for us being better defensively when he plays is that he occupies full backs much more and denies them the opportunity get forward as much as they would like. Attack being best form of defence and all that
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Moreno is quicker, but I think part of the reason for us being better defensively when he plays is that he occupies full backs much more and denies them the opportunity get forward as much as they would like. Attack being best form of defence and all that
The trouble is when he's up against a pacy wide player like he was at Brentford, he struggled massively. He didn't get near Mbuemo, and his attacking play wasn't the same because of it.
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Unfortunately his season is over but has been a great addition and real asset.
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Apparently his hamstring injury was bad enough that he's had to have surgery and will have to do rehab before he can join the squad for pre-season training.
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Not good, he's been fantastic in the opposition box.
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Apparently his hamstring injury was bad enough that he's had to have surgery and will have to do rehab before he can join the squad for pre-season training.
Ah pants, that's not good.
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Apparently his hamstring injury was bad enough that he's had to have surgery and will have to do rehab before he can join the squad for pre-season training.
Ah pants, that's not good.
Dicked by Van Dyke
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A lengthy injury for a key player. Pretty standard stuff to be honest.
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Part of the new signing ritual. Might as well put it in the correct - you must have serious injury within your first season with the club
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Out until August:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65726007.amp
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Gutted for him, he’s been mostly excellent since he’s joined.
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TAA done in Trezeguet a few seasons back that we should have had a pen from. Now Van Dyke has done in Moreno. But hey look, stud marks on Gakpo. Those injuries dealt out by Liverpool weren’t malicious but they can still do one.
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Only at Villa can a hamstring injury cause a three month absence.
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Only at Villa can a hamstring injury cause a three month absence.
To be fair it's not like he's missing much and the 3 month thing seems to worst case scenario, back in training a few werks after the main group would be my guess.
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Gutted for him, he’s been mostly excellent since he’s joined.
We really don't have much luck with left-backs do we?
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We must have used up all our luck allocation regarding left back fitness with Charlie Aitken. Never injured.
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Shame for the lad, he's been great. But a clear indication of why talk about letting Digne go in the summer is misguided.
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Digne's played really well for the last couple of games too. Just a bit odd when one of your highest earners has been on the bench most weeks and hasn't been used at all for many of those.
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I'm so gutted for him he's been brilliant for us.
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It's great to have two players for that left back position who offer slightly different talents. Digne was excellent today and has stepped up well when Moreno isn't on the pitch. I hope Digne stays. I also hope that we really strengthen the right hand side.
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Any updates on Moreno's fitness? I think they said he's out for around 12 weeks with a torn hamstring. If so, he's likely to miss the start of the season along with JJ.
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I have seen him working in the gym at Bodymoor heath so at least on the road to recovery
Bet he is gutted at missing the USA trip
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He looks well enough, and seems to be in rehearsals for panto.
https://twitter.com/AVFC_espanol/status/1682744283894280192
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He looks well enough, and seems to be in rehearsals for panto.
https://twitter.com/AVFC_espanol/status/1682744283894280192
Oh no he isn't.
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He looks well enough, and seems to be in rehearsals for panto.
https://twitter.com/AVFC_espanol/status/1682744283894280192
What’s that he’s running in?
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He looks well enough, and seems to be in rehearsals for panto.
https://twitter.com/AVFC_espanol/status/1682744283894280192
What’s that he’s running in?
As I said, it's a pantomime horse*.
*One for you, eamonn.
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He looks well enough, and seems to be in rehearsals for panto.
https://twitter.com/AVFC_espanol/status/1682744283894280192
What’s that he’s running in?
It's a zero gravity treadmill that reduces resistance and impact so can get people back to running earlier in their recovery.
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Must you live so relentlessly live in the real world, Paul? Wink.
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Must you live so relentlessly live in the real world, Paul? Wink.
You gave the fun answer but I figured he'd asked out a genuine interest!
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worst panto horse costume i have seen
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I know - you can see his legs!
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I know - you can see his legs!
Oh no you can’t!
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He looks well enough, and seems to be in rehearsals for panto.
https://twitter.com/AVFC_espanol/status/1682744283894280192
What’s that he’s running in?
It's a zero gravity treadmill that reduces resistance and impact so can get people back to running earlier in their recovery.
I'm sure this is going to sound like a stupid question when someone explains it in really simple terms, but how does running with your legs in what is effectively an inflated balloon create a 'zero gravity' environment for his recovery?
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I'm sure this is going to sound like a stupid question when someone explains it in really simple terms, but how does running with your legs in what is effectively an inflated balloon create a 'zero gravity' environment for his recovery?
Basically the air pressure can be controlled which reduces the weight or pressure on joints or muscles, which means less strain on injured areas, so a person can do more than they would be able to do in normal conditions.
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The chamber encases the user at the waist and uses differential air pressure to create a sense of weightlessness from the waist down.
(I may have googled that)
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It's mostly about reducing impact, lots of places use underwater treadmills for a similar effect. bone and ligament injuries have a high risk of recurrence or complication if you try to load too soon in normal conditions this allows you to start work on muscle strength and recovery earlier in the cycle without those risks so , for an injury like Morenos it can take a a few weeks off recovery time to get him back in full training.
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Pictures of him back out on the grass yesterday, running and starting his fitness work. Sounds like he's a bit ahead of schedule.
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Good.
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I know Moreno was one of our best players last season and offers a lot going forward too, but I feel like Digne's done a good job in his place, albeit in preseason matches. It'll be good to have Moreno back, and if he's ahead of schedule, great, but I'm less concerned about his absence than I was when we first found out about it.
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Yeah, at this rate there's every chance he could make the squad by the time we start the conference league games, 3-4 weeks since starting back on grass is a pretty reasonable timescale for the sort of injury he had.
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Back in training!
Viva Morenooooooo! Need to see JJ back now and our left hand side is dramatically improved to top 4 standards.
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Back in training!
Viva Morenooooooo! Need to see JJ back now and our left hand side is dramatically improved to top 4 standards.
Yes Ads I was thinking earlier about the disappointment of our two defeats this season . I went into those games.with expectations commensurate with our performances last season.
There is a huge hole on the left hand side without these two players who were so important.
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Plus Digne was back to his his usual wishy washy shite ways on Sunday.
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Plus Digne was back to his his usual wishy washy shite ways on Sunday.
The bit when he faced dived and just lay there giving up
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Plus Digne was back to his his usual wishy washy shite ways on Sunday.
*dons deerstalker hat, raises pipe to mouth*
I note with interest that being the first match after the transfer window was closed.
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Plus Digne was back to his his usual wishy washy shite ways on Sunday.
Although to be fair, he wasn't the only one to have a poor game.
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Plus Digne was back to his his usual wishy washy shite ways on Sunday.
*dons deerstalker hat, raises pipe to mouth*
I note with interest that being the first match after the transfer window was closed.
Unfortunate then, that we had to face Salah when the Saudi transfer window was still open.
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Plus Digne was back to his his usual wishy washy shite ways on Sunday.
Although to be fair, he wasn't the only one to have a poor game.
Yeah, Cashy was back to his usual, too.... ;)
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It's not just the loss of Moreno and Ramsey either. I bet, certainly for the Newcastle game, they will have been planning to play Buendia on the left and McGinn on the right.
So having lost Moreno, Ramsey and then Buendia, our right side is also then affected by having to switch McGinn over.
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Plus Digne was back to his his usual wishy washy shite ways on Sunday.
I think, as others have observed, that this applied to almost all the team. I've often wondered what kind of curse affects a team on an off day when everyone (or almost everyone) turns in an almost telepathically inept performance.
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Plus Digne was back to his his usual wishy washy shite ways on Sunday.
I was never going to get excited about him bossing Hibs, Everton and Burnley. He needs to do it consistently against tougher opponents to change my mind. You turncoat, imagine thinking he was now decent 😉.
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Where was Alex today? not even on the bench. Hopefully he hasn't suffered any setback?
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Emery said words along the lines of he wasn’t feeling 100% so they’re going to take it easy with him.
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Emery said words along the lines of he wasn’t feeling 100% so they’re going to take it easy with him.
Was that illness or the injury?
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Emery said words along the lines of he wasn’t feeling 100% so they’re going to take it easy with him.
Was that illness or the injury?
Neither, was his feelings. Hopefully his back 100% soon and luckily we have Digne who is world class as well.
.
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Found the quote via The Athletic:
Unai Emery on Alex Moreno: “His injury was very hard. He’s getting better and better buts he’s not feeling 100% comfortable to play.
“We’ve decided to stop some days, maybe some weeks to work with him and get him stronger. He is closer to getting in the squad.”
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Found the quote via The Athletic:
Unai Emery on Alex Moreno: “His injury was very hard. He’s getting better and better buts he’s not feeling 100% comfortable to play.
“We’ve decided to stop some days, maybe some weeks to work with him and get him stronger. He is closer to getting in the squad.”
Yes, that was a serious hamstring injury, as bad as it gets with surgery required. Very wise to be cautious and build up his fitness...
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Wasn't it a hamstring injury that DeBruyne had at the end of last season, and then he did it again first game this season and is still out? Would love to see Moreno back but no point in rushing him.
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Yes and yes.
Also like unambiguous comment from Unai.
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I see Alex Moreno is still not fit for Sunday according to UE in the presser. This is becoming a concern with his hamstring still not fully healed 5 months on from the injury at Liverpool last May. We massively miss him and JJ on that left side - JJ is out as well. Hopefully Alex won't require further surgery??
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I see Alex Moreno is still not fit for Sunday according to UE in the presser. This is becoming a concern with his hamstring still not fully healed 5 months on from the injury at Liverpool last May. We massively miss him and JJ on that left side - JJ is out as well. Hopefully Alex won't require further surgery??
I'd assume the caution being taken is to avoid that very thing. As mentioned just above, DeBruyne had a hamstring injury, was back fairly quickly, and didn't last a full game, and he's been out ever since. If Moreno is going to be out I'd rather it was because they were making sure the first injury was healed properly, rather than him being injured again and potentially missing a much longer period.
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Disappointed to hear and feel for him
Must be very frustrating to be sidelined
He won't lose his ability but his forays forward may not be the same as they once were due to his mobility and reaching previous speeds.
Leon Bailey seems not to have the turn of pace he once had as an example.
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We badly miss both Moreno & Ramsey down that left side.
Hopefully they can both be back soon...
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I see Alex Moreno is still not fit for Sunday according to UE in the presser. This is becoming a concern with his hamstring still not fully healed 5 months on from the injury at Liverpool last May. We massively miss him and JJ on that left side - JJ is out as well. Hopefully Alex won't require further surgery??
I'd assume the caution being taken is to avoid that very thing. As mentioned just above, DeBruyne had a hamstring injury, was back fairly quickly, and didn't last a full game, and he's been out ever since. If Moreno is going to be out I'd rather it was because they were making sure the first injury was healed properly, rather than him being injured again and potentially missing a much longer period.
As someone who has ruptured their hamstring 3 times (+ numerous tears) I whole heartedly agree! The sad thing is once it’s gone this big there’s always a weakness which either results in other injuries, it going again and/or a loss of dynamism. Sadly all 3 happened to me (although some of that might also be due to age and fitness!)
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Thank god we didn't get rid of Digne. Moreno is another one made of glass, should change his name to Murano.
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Disappointed to hear and feel for him
Must be very frustrating to be sidelined
He won't lose his ability but his forays forward may not be the same as they once were due to his mobility and reaching previous speeds.
Leon Bailey seems not to have the turn of pace he once had as an example.
Yep, that's my concern with his turn of pace being affected. It looked a bad injury the way Alex landed when jumping for the ball.
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Thank god we didn't get rid of Digne. Moreno is another one made of glass, should change his name to Murano.
I once bought a piece of Murano, cost me an arm and a leg - possibly Moreno’s leg
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Thank god we didn't get rid of Digne. Moreno is another one made of glass, should change his name to Murano.
Thats a fair point.
I was one calling for him to be sold, & long term, I don't think different, but as a stand in for Moreno, he has done a decent job.
It was a solid decision by the club not to let him leave...
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Thank god we didn't get rid of Digne. Moreno is another one made of glass, should change his name to Murano.
Thats a fair point.
I was one calling for him to be sold, & long term, I don't think different, but as a stand in for Moreno, he has done a decent job.
It was a solid decision by the club not to let him leave...
I think it was down to circumstances really. Weren't we trying to sign Acuna and he got injured playing when he maybe shouldn't have been, and then knowing Moreno wasn't going to be back any time soon, we put the breaks on Digne's exit at the last minute.
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Once we had Alex,
out on the grass,
Soon found out,
had an arse of glass.
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Emery said in yesterday's press conference that he's expecting both Moreno and Ramsey back in 2-3 weeks, before the next international break.
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Emery said in yesterday's press conference that he's expecting both Moreno and Ramsey back in 2-3 weeks, before the next international break.
You can quote me now... 😉
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Moreno dressed as a clown to scare the other players. Nobody seems that bothered, except Zaniolo who might need a change of pants.
Most interesting part of it is Buendia strolling in with the rest of them. I know walking isn't running or playing, but it's better than crutches!
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Moreno dressed as a clown to scare the other players. Nobody seems that bothered, except Zaniolo who might need a change of pants.
Most interesting part of it is Buendia strolling in with the rest of them. I know walking isn't running or playing, but it's better than crutches!
I thought Martinez jumped a little only because he thought it was Mbappe
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That looked encouraging to see Buendia walking along - I wonder if he will be fit at the lower end of his forecasted recovery. I think the minimum is 6 months meaning a February or March return. No sign of Mings though.
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Some great reactions on that. Zaniolo looks like he shat himself! Good work Moreno !
-
We have had a fair few clowns playing for us over the last 10 years
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That's a good point, the Villa Father Christmas sketch with Gabby and Micah acting like tits has haunted some of us for years. Brian Green a notable dissenter.
Hopefully this doesn't come back to haunt us...
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Hopefully this doesn't come back to haunt us...
More likely that we're samhain the seeds for long-term success.
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Oh I did miss the old Barm Brack slicing yesterday and see who ended-up with the ring.
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Hasn't Zaniolo been through enough lately?
Bailey shat himself a bit too. They can see the camera crew when they walk in though so most of them knew something was up. Probably half expecting it on Halloween too.
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I don't know what state Buendia's knee is in, but it seemed a bit daft to try to jump-scare him. Hopefully, he was given a warning.
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Not like he's on crutches.
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There were cameras on their way in that showed them he was there. It was for the most part faux shock.
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There were cameras on their way in that showed them he was there. It was for the most part faux shock.
Nah, footballers are shit actors. The jumps were realz.
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Looks pretty genuine. A few clocked something was going on though i think. Longlet and Torres very cool, a fair few jump, Bailey probably the funniest for me.
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On a related note, how nice to have a squad with no tossers!
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Yeh I thought that too. Not a single one of them are the wankers of the past. No Lescott, Richards, Collins, Gabby having a fucking right old laugh as we plummeted down the league. Christmas videos on the jolly as our club was embarrassed week after week. Some lovely cliques where the French players felt unwelcome while the England “lads” went out on the piss.
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Back in training, wahay.
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Always seems to have a brilliant attitude. Great to see him back out there
https://x.com/avfcofficial/status/1719708887958323421?s=46
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Hopefully it sticks this time.
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Yeh I thought that too. Not a single one of them are the wankers of the past. No Lescott, Richards, Collins, Gabby having a fucking right old laugh as we plummeted down the league. Christmas videos on the jolly as our club was embarrassed week after week. Some lovely cliques where the French players felt unwelcome while the England “lads” went out on the piss.
Something occurred to me last week. I might be miles out, but I wonder if some of McGinn's improvement in form is down to Grealish not being here any more, and them not going out on the lash all the time? Obviously he's being coached to an infinitely higher level, but he looks a lot fitter and more determined as well.
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Yeh I thought that too. Not a single one of them are the wankers of the past. No Lescott, Richards, Collins, Gabby having a fucking right old laugh as we plummeted down the league. Christmas videos on the jolly as our club was embarrassed week after week. Some lovely cliques where the French players felt unwelcome while the England “lads” went out on the piss.
Something occurred to me last week. I might be miles out, but I wonder if some of McGinn's improvement in form is down to Grealish not being here any more, and them not going out on the lash all the time? Obviously he's being coached to an infinitely higher level, but he looks a lot fitter and more determined as well.
Yeh you might be right. But Grealish was gone and even under Gerrard SJM looked overweight and out of shape. And I don’t know that McGinn is a drinker to the same extent Grealish is. I always see McGinn as a minder so that his mate didn’t fall off a cliff literally or drown in a pool. I just think McGinn under Emery has truly bought into the disciplines and responsibilities of being captain of Aston Villa. If anyone embodies Emery and what he has changed at the club it’s McGinn. A proper leader now and even more so that Mings is out who is another born leader on and off the pitch.
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They all know their job in the team, they all know the others players do as well. So you don't have McGinn, Watkins, Mings and others having to run around doing nothing as much as they did. Hence the improvement pretty much across the board. I also suspect they have been told what to eat and when to eat and so they have also improved physically anyway. Mings definitely looks a few pounds lighter in the face as well as the body.
Anyway, back to Scary Moreno, who was the blonde tallish guy who got scared as well. And was that Ramsey who was looking around the doors?
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Yeh I thought that too. Not a single one of them are the wankers of the past. No Lescott, Richards, Collins, Gabby having a fucking right old laugh as we plummeted down the league. Christmas videos on the jolly as our club was embarrassed week after week. Some lovely cliques where the French players felt unwelcome while the England “lads” went out on the piss.
Something occurred to me last week. I might be miles out, but I wonder if some of McGinn's improvement in form is down to Grealish not being here any more, and them not going out on the lash all the time? Obviously he's being coached to an infinitely higher level, but he looks a lot fitter and more determined as well.
Yeh you might be right. But Grealish was gone and even under Gerrard SJM looked overweight and out of shape. And I don’t know that McGinn is a drinker to the same extent Grealish is. I always see McGinn as a minder so that his mate didn’t fall off a cliff literally or drown in a pool. I just think McGinn under Emery has truly bought into the disciplines and responsibilities of being captain of Aston Villa. If anyone embodies Emery and what he has changed at the club it’s McGinn. A proper leader now and even more so that Mings is out who is another born leader on and off the pitch.
The player who I didn't think could adapt to Emery tactics and I thought would be gone, but shows what a fantastic manager Emery is and "I know nothing"
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Yeh I thought that too. Not a single one of them are the wankers of the past. No Lescott, Richards, Collins, Gabby having a fucking right old laugh as we plummeted down the league. Christmas videos on the jolly as our club was embarrassed week after week. Some lovely cliques where the French players felt unwelcome while the England “lads” went out on the piss.
Something occurred to me last week. I might be miles out, but I wonder if some of McGinn's improvement in form is down to Grealish not being here any more, and them not going out on the lash all the time? Obviously he's being coached to an infinitely higher level, but he looks a lot fitter and more determined as well.
Yeh you might be right. But Grealish was gone and even under Gerrard SJM looked overweight and out of shape. And I don’t know that McGinn is a drinker to the same extent Grealish is. I always see McGinn as a minder so that his mate didn’t fall off a cliff literally or drown in a pool. I just think McGinn under Emery has truly bought into the disciplines and responsibilities of being captain of Aston Villa. If anyone embodies Emery and what he has changed at the club it’s McGinn. A proper leader now and even more so that Mings is out who is another born leader on and off the pitch.
I think you’ll find he went to Dublin once - that’s all the proof any of us need.
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Yeh I thought that too. Not a single one of them are the wankers of the past. No Lescott, Richards, Collins, Gabby having a fucking right old laugh as we plummeted down the league. Christmas videos on the jolly as our club was embarrassed week after week. Some lovely cliques where the French players felt unwelcome while the England “lads” went out on the piss.
Something occurred to me last week. I might be miles out, but I wonder if some of McGinn's improvement in form is down to Grealish not being here any more, and them not going out on the lash all the time? Obviously he's being coached to an infinitely higher level, but he looks a lot fitter and more determined as well.
Yeh you might be right. But Grealish was gone and even under Gerrard SJM looked overweight and out of shape. And I don’t know that McGinn is a drinker to the same extent Grealish is. I always see McGinn as a minder so that his mate didn’t fall off a cliff literally or drown in a pool. I just think McGinn under Emery has truly bought into the disciplines and responsibilities of being captain of Aston Villa. If anyone embodies Emery and what he has changed at the club it’s McGinn. A proper leader now and even more so that Mings is out who is another born leader on and off the pitch.
I think you’ll find he went to Dublin once - that’s all the proof any of us need.
Ah yes. My bad. He visited Ireland so no doubt he was face down on Grafton and vomiting later into the Liffey.
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Seeing the team photo published today I'm assuming that's why Buendia was with the rest of the squad yesterday. Still, good to see him up and about and he's front row in the pic, so we can confirm he's definitely still got both knees intact.
(https://images.webapi.gc.avfcservices.co.uk/fit-in/800x800/57cba4f0-7898-11ee-933d-596989fce883.png)
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Even Mings is there.
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Even Mings is there.
No excuse not to be, he got all his Xmas shopping done at the King of Prussia Mall.
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Even Mings is there.
I did wonder if Mings was actually there or had been added in afterwards. Especially as the ones at the back would have had to climb onto something.
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Even Mings is there.
Yeah, but he probably hasn’t taken his kit off yet!
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I'm looking forward to him coming back into the team..he's been away now for a while but he always offered something exciting going forward and was a masterpiece signing.
It's been too long!
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"Álex Moreno is progressing very good, he's available to be in the squad and he's ready to play Sunday. "
Hurrah! Great news.
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Starting for the Under 21's tonight.
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That's good to hear. I was wondering what the best way to reintroduce a player whose been out so long is. Throwing him into a Premier League game first thing didn't seem the best option. Hopefully he comes through unscathed and builds up a bit of fitness.
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Subbed off at 64 minutes.
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Gave him an hour's run-out.
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He goes straight back into the team for me when he's ready.
Digne has exceeded expectations this season but Moreno is better.
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He goes straight back into the team for me when he's ready.
Digne has exceeded expectations this season but Moreno is better.
It's great to have them both. Really good competition.
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He goes straight back into the team for me when he's ready.
Digne has exceeded expectations this season but Moreno is better.
It's great to have them both. Really good competition.
Worst case: bringing Moreno on when the opposition’s defence is tiring will add another dimension to the squad. A nice problem to have.
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Sounds like he got the hour and came off unscathed. Good stuff.
(https://images.webapi.gc.avfcservices.co.uk/fit-in/800x800/69e46d70-8270-11ee-a764-5db2ec12f7b0.jpg)
The PL Cup tie also saw fit-again Álex Moreno make his welcome return from injury as he enjoyed just over an hour in South Wales to get valuable game time under his belt.
Moreno was replaced just after the hour mark as he got crucial minutes during the break in Premier League action.
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I watched him closely at half time doing individual warm up with a coach as if he was going to get some game time. His timing looked completely off and he didn’t appear to be striking the ball cleanly at all. Perhaps it was decided then best to give him a less strenuous return. Hope he came through it.
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I watched him closely at half time doing individual warm up with a coach as if he was going to get some game time. His timing looked completely off and he didn’t appear to be striking the ball cleanly at all. Perhaps it was decided then best to give him a less strenuous return. Hope he came through it.
Half time in the Fulham game?
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I think with how Fulham started the second half - attacking on the left with the sub winger who came on (Wilson?) it wouldn't have been the right time to let him get up to speed.
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I watched him closely at half time doing individual warm up with a coach as if he was going to get some game time. His timing looked completely off and he didn’t appear to be striking the ball cleanly at all. Perhaps it was decided then best to give him a less strenuous return. Hope he came through it.
Half time in the Fulham game?
Sorry, yes at the Fulham game. He was crossing into box from right in front of me.
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He goes straight back into the team for me when he's ready.
Digne has exceeded expectations this season but Moreno is better.
IMO Digne has earned the right to keep the shirt and it’s up to Moreno to win it back. Great to have two quality players for the same position though.
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IMO Digne has earned the right to keep the shirt and it’s up to Moreno to win it back. Great to have two quality players for the same position though.
Agreed.
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He goes straight back into the team for me when he's ready.
Digne has exceeded expectations this season but Moreno is better.
IMO Digne has earned the right to keep the shirt and it’s up to Moreno to win it back. Great to have two quality players for the same position though.
Agree. I think Moreno of last season offers us much more, but he’s had a really serious injury, especially for a speed merchant, he’s going to need easing in really slowly, I would of thought 10/15 mins for a few games. Digne has also played virtually every minute of every game and put in a huge shift for the team, it would be a huge rebuff just to drop him
straight away.
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I love Moreno but Digne’s been brilliant and no way should he make way yet.
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I am looking forward to Unai's next couple of team sheets as he will be wanting to be demanding while trying to impose our style, respecting the players, including our opponents, and connecting with the fans.
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A fully-fit Moreno would have been very useful away to Forest the other week. Ditto Ramsey.
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IMO Digne has earned the right to keep the shirt and it’s up to Moreno to win it back. Great to have two quality players for the same position though.
Probably good for Moreno in the long run too. There's been a few players in different teams brought straight back into their sides only to be injured again pretty quickly. I thought we'd struggle without him but Digne has more than stepped up and allowed us to give Moreno that extra bit of time. We might get more for Digne in the summer too, if he moves on. He might have more options too.
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No problem with him being eased back in
But he will earn his shirt back because he’s a better player and the only player we’ve got who consistently takes opposition players on the outside and gets past them
For all the pace Diaby and Bailey have they very rarely do it
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I am looking forward to Unai's next couple of team sheets as he will be wanting to be demanding while trying to impose our style, respecting the players, including our opponents, and connecting with the fans.
God, he's so boring, how do the players stay attentive to his broken English? Wish we had a comedian like Gregory or Tactics in charge.
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I am looking forward to Unai's next couple of team sheets as he will be wanting to be demanding while trying to impose our style, respecting the players, including our opponents, and connecting with the fans.
Nah. I reckon he will be respecting the players and the fans, connecting with them. The opponents, of course, are strong.
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This guy is fucking brilliant, probably my favourite player of the current lot. Digne has been good this season, very good in fact but Moreno just offers us so much more in my opinion and as ruthless as it is I'd be starting him ahead of Digne again now.
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Fantastic to have him back. He is so good going forward. We have 2 very strong left back options don’t we!? Amazing stuff.
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I was a bit worried after so long out with a serious hamstring injury that he might have lost half a yard of pace (it's certainly what you tend to hear from former pace-merchants who've had hamstring injuries), but it doesn't seem to be the case so far! Thought he was excellent last night. He'll be test more defensively in the league, obviously, but he's such an excellent attacking threat down that left side.
It's so good have him and JJ back on the pitch. Even if they don't start, what an incredible set of options from the bench.
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What a comeback. I like to think he was possessed by the spirit of Shane MacGowan. Maybe Alex was a fan during his adolescence.
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I'm so pleased for him scoring after his lay off.
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Really good to have him (and Ramsey) back. The squad is starting to look very strong.*
*Fuck off fate, no more injuries please.
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He looked absolutely shagged when he came off, he runs his arse off for Unai. He'll be buzzing after tonight, a start on sunday please
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Really good to have him (and Ramsey) back. The squad is starting to look very strong.*
*Fuck off fate, no more injuries please.
What have you done?!
Seriously though, Alex back on his scooter, zooming up and beyond hapless opponents is great. His pace, work rate and insane desire to get beyond is really going to help. And JJ too. The squad just got a lot stronger.
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Yep, really happy to have Moreno back. Digne has been excellent but Moreno fits how we play better.
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Really good to have him (and Ramsey) back. The squad is starting to look very strong.*
*Fuck off fate, no more injuries please.
What have you done?!
Seriously though, Alex back on his scooter, zooming up and beyond hapless opponents is great. His pace, work rate and insane desire to get beyond is really going to help. And JJ too. The squad just got a lot stronger.
Although Watkins’ absence last might is a concern.
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I reckon if it was a league game Ollie would have found a way to play. As it turns out I’m sure with the night off he’ll be itching to be in the line up for Bournemouth.
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I reckon if it was a league game Ollie would have found a way to play. As it turns out I’m sure with the night off he’ll be itching to be in the line up for Bournemouth.
I read today he’s 50/50 to face Bournemouth.
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He looked absolutely shagged when he came off, he runs his arse off for Unai. He'll be buzzing after tonight, a start on sunday please
It's great to have him back, but I think that'd be extremely harsh on Digne who has been excellent for weeks now.
This is what we need, real quality options in each role. RB fixed in January and we look really well covered all over the pitch (slight concern up top).
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I reckon if it was a league game Ollie would have found a way to play. As it turns out I’m sure with the night off he’ll be itching to be in the line up for Bournemouth.
I read today he’s 50/50 to face Bournemouth.
No chance. Digne will start.
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I reckon if it was a league game Ollie would have found a way to play. As it turns out I’m sure with the night off he’ll be itching to be in the line up for Bournemouth.
I read today he’s 50/50 to face Bournemouth.
No chance. Digne will start.
Instead of Watkins?
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Apart from 'lockdown Matt Targett' I feel like we've struggled for left backs since Bouma got injured. It's surreal to have two excellent options all of a sudden.
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This guy is fucking brilliant, probably my favourite player of the current lot.
Yeah, brilliant player and a positive influence in the squad who always seems to be smiling (a sort of anti-Danny Murphy).
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Thought he was understandably rusty in the first half, but brilliant after the break. He’s different to Digne in the way he does those mad diagonal runs into the box at pace, just a dynamic player. Still think Digne will start on Sunday, but wouldn’t be surprised to see Moreno start one of either Man City or Arsenal.
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He's a good-looking fucker too.
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He's a good-looking fucker too.
Bastardo
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He's a good-looking fucker too.
Not very tall though , women like a bit of height
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Yes I’m sure that’d be a real hindrance to him.
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He's a nice young man, he has a lovely smile.
Give him a ball and a yard of grass
He'll give you a move with a perfect pass.
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He's a good-looking fucker too.
Not very tall though , women like a bit of height
I'm sure there's a lot you will teach us all about what women like.
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Moreno and Ramsey off the bench. That’s a lot of pace and power for a tiring opposition.
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Moreno and Ramsey off the bench. That’s a lot of pace and power for a tiring opposition.
Especially if Bailey comes on as well.
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He's a good-looking fucker too.
We must be the most good-looking team in the world.
Great to see him return with a goal. Hope he is back to his best soon. Him and Ramsey terrorising teams' right-hand side will take us into another gear.
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Well done Alex. Two massive goals in recent games after being off for ages. Love his attitude also.
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Well done Alex. Two massive goals in recent games after being off for ages. Love his attitude also.
Had a funny game, mostly good and he did score bit missed a couple of early chances and was at fault with a half-hearted effort for their goal.
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Clearly rusty and definitely a mixed game today but also clearly a class act, love him!
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Clearly rusty and definitely a mixed game today but also clearly a class act, love him!
Took him a few weeks to get up to speed when he arrived as well. Great ball from Bailey but he took the goal well.
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After that I suspect the shirt is his again.
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Well done Alex. Two massive goals in recent games after being off for ages. Love his attitude also.
That was a great header today.
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After that I suspect the shirt is his again.
I'm not so sure it's that nailed on, a lot of his all round play today was quite rusty, and he was massively at fault for the goal. I think he and Ramsey still need to be managed back to full form and fitness. I think he might start against Sheffield United, but Digne will get the nod against Man U.
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Agreed and also Digne has been excellent, I think it’s a proper battle for the starting slot. Digne doesn’t score that goal, but equally we probably don’t concede the goal if he’s playing either.
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Wouldn’t it be nice to have the same dilemma at right back which didn’t involve playing Konsa out of position. But then we have that dilemma over Konsa, Torres and Carlos.
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I do wonder sometimes is it a case of wanting to play Cash where he does, or just not wanting to pick between Konsa, Torres, and Carlos?
If it's the latter then we need to sign some kind of right wing/midfield player because Cash isn't it.
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I do wonder sometimes is it a case of wanting to play Cash where he does, or just not wanting to pick between Konsa, Torres, and Carlos?
If it's the latter then we need to sign some kind of right wing/midfield player because Cash isn't it.
Seems to me that Konsa play RB because Cash isnt dependable enough as RB.
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I do wonder sometimes is it a case of wanting to play Cash where he does, or just not wanting to pick between Konsa, Torres, and Carlos?
If it's the latter then we need to sign some kind of right wing/midfield player because Cash isn't it.
Seems to me that Konsa play RB because Cash isnt dependable enough as RB.
Are you the nonFooty person who only ever posts to criticise Cash?
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I do wonder sometimes is it a case of wanting to play Cash where he does, or just not wanting to pick between Konsa, Torres, and Carlos?
If it's the latter then we need to sign some kind of right wing/midfield player because Cash isn't it.
Seems to me that Konsa play RB because Cash isnt dependable enough as RB.
I think Emery has always favoured a lop sided defence, with the right back almost acting as a third centre back. I think Cash is a perfectly decent traditional right back, but I think he might struggle with Emery’s expectations of what he expects of that role.
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I do wonder sometimes is it a case of wanting to play Cash where he does, or just not wanting to pick between Konsa, Torres, and Carlos?
If it's the latter then we need to sign some kind of right wing/midfield player because Cash isn't it.
Seems to me that Konsa play RB because Cash isnt dependable enough as RB.
Are you the nonFooty person who only ever posts to criticise Cash?
No but I do agree its mostly Footy and me that seems to post critical opinions about Matty s contributions on here.
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I do wonder sometimes is it a case of wanting to play Cash where he does, or just not wanting to pick between Konsa, Torres, and Carlos?
If it's the latter then we need to sign some kind of right wing/midfield player because Cash isn't it.
It's the latter. Arteta does the same with White at Arsenal, MON used do it with Cuellar and Mellberg. Cash is fine at RB but Emery has been itching to play with 3 x CBs since pre season. Definitely no need to play 3 x CBs v Sheff United so with Torres maybe carrying a knock I think we will see Cash back at RB. Cash playing there has only worked once that I can think of v Burnley. Konsa at RB has only worked v Man City.
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Became all a bit too much for him v Newcastle and it was perhaps his weakest performance.
Don't think he had much support from Tielemans on that side of the pitch and could have linked better.
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Lovely strike for his goal V Sheffield United from am excellent pick out by Watkins.
Moreno offers such a great attacking threat from all our full backs he's the one most likely to get goals.
That's two goals in 7 matches.
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Lovely strike for his goal V Sheffield United from am excellent pick out by Watkins.
Moreno offers such a great attacking threat from all our full backs he's the one most likely to get goals.
That's two goals in 7 matches.
Nearly as good as Cash's two goals in 1 match.
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Think he needed a good game today, and he delivered. Took his goal well, he loves a back post volley!
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It'll take time for him to get back to his best, but he's such a threat going forward at times.
I really like him.
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Thought Alex should have scored in the home match against the Blades with that far-post header.
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Seems a really positive minded and likeable person. His showing of pure joy after he scored.
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Seems a really positive minded and likeable person. His showing of pure joy after he scored.
He blew us kisses as well the big flirt.
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Clearly getting back up to speed although I think I could of walked through thier defence
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Amazing technique for his goal. Firmly planted his right foot. It was never not going in.
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Seems a really positive minded and likeable person. His showing of pure joy after he scored.
(https://i.ibb.co/HHpwXhm/20240203-183700.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HHpwXhm)
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Amazing technique for his goal. Firmly planted his right foot. It was never not going in.
Yep, he properly twatted that, nice and accurate as well.
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Seems a really positive minded and likeable person. His showing of pure joy after he scored.
He does. He also has a great warming smile. Most of all he’s a very good player who has settled in well at the club.
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Cobwebs of his nightmare performance against Newcastle blown out of his system. We need a really strong second half of the season from him. He does find space at the back post, goal against Brentford, one in Europe and yesterday.
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Good goal by him.
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Once Digne's returns, it'll be back to what worked so well when Emery could give them both game time. As for Moreno, I think he's great. Some games might not suit his style as much as others but for the money, he's been very good.
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He's getting up to speed now after that long lay-off. I like the dynamism he gives us.
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He's getting up to speed now after that long lay-off. I like the dynamism he gives us.
I hope he is, but he was as bad against Newcastle as he was good against Sheffield. Obviously Man U will be a much sterner test, so I hope he can keep his standards up now. When Konsa is playing at right back, we need the width he provides on the left.
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Seems a really positive minded and likeable person. His showing of pure joy after he scored.
He blew us kisses as well the big flirt.
He's not my type but he is cute.
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I don’t mind Moreno generally, can do some nice stuff going forward, but his last two home “performances” are two of the worse displays I’ve ever seen. Genuinely dreadful stuff, we really need Digne back. Lack of competition is not helpful at all.
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It's like he has forgotten to defend but McGinn gave him no protection either. Better in the opposition box, missed a big chance with the header.
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He's been poor ever since he came back from injury. Complete lack of awareness of what's going on around him. A liability
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He's been poor ever since he came back from injury. Complete lack of awareness of what's going on around him. A liability
He was like this when he first started for us and then he vastly improved. He better quickly do that or hopefully Digne is back soon.
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2 goals scored so hardly poor.
He's probably fatigued and gaining match sharpness
I think he's a real good fit for Emery style of play.
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He’s been our worst player two home games running. Need Digne back, and quickly.
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Something seems to have been wrong since he came back. During the games I've been to, his body language and general demeanour have been really poor and he just doesn't look interested at times.
He doesn't look to have forged any kind of understanding with Lenglet and they hardly seem to speak to each other during a game. Both full-backs are in really poor form at the moment.
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He's been poor ever since he came back from injury. Complete lack of awareness of what's going on around him. A liability
He was like this when he first started for us and then he vastly improved. He better quickly do that or hopefully Digne is back soon.
Yep Digne can't come back soon enough
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I like Moreno, he seems spirited, attacks well and gets the odd goal.
But we looked much more balanced with Digne.
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Digne is prone to shockers but he's a senior pro. You do feel more robust with him on that side.
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Moreno lengthy absence due to injury would have contributed to his ability to perform consistently well for 90 minutes.
Yet he's scored 2 goals.
Regarding any difficulties off the pitch, it was most likely difficult adjusting to being injured for so long including being away from Spain, as well as playing during the holiday and Christmas season for the first time in his career.
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He missed the entirety of pre-season, as well as the first four months of the season. He had setbacks in his recovery too and then Digne getting crocked has meant he has had to play every week.
It's hardly surprising he has been a bit ropey.
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He's not been the same player since returning from injury but I agree he didn't get much help tonight either. His best form was when Ramsey was playing in front of him, and he's been blighted by injuries as well.
We haven't got any viable option until Digne gets back fit, so we have to hope he can refind that form from last season.
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Getting the 5th goal in a demolition of the worst team the Premier League has ever seen doesn’t excuse his last two performances against Newcastle and Chelsea. Two of the most awful displays you’ll ever see.
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Moreno lengthy absence due to injury would have contributed to his ability to perform consistently well for 90 minutes.
Yet he's scored 2 goals.
Regarding any difficulties off the pitch, it was most likely difficult adjusting to being injured for so long including being away from Spain, as well as playing during the holiday and Christmas season for the first time in his career.
Sorry, but you’re totally wrong on this Footy. I don’t give a shite if my fullback is scoring goals. What I do expect is him to be able to tackle an already slowed, stumbling Chelsea player (after previous attempted tackle from a Villa midfielder)…. Not let him pass him by down the wing, and then proceed to chase him with a light jog.
They were all rubbish tonight, but he was head and shoulders the worst.
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Not his best game but you could say that about everyone else. I think he was massively let down tonight by the lack of help in front of him. He was blowing out of his backside after about 20 minutes simply because when he went forward no one dropped in behind him and he was being asked to do an impossible job. The lack of any pace at all from Lenglet exposed the left side even more.
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Not his best game but you could say that about everyone else. I think he was massively let down tonight by the lack of help in front of him. He was blowing out of his backside after about 20 minutes simply because when he went forward no one dropped in behind him and he was being asked to do an impossible job. The lack of any pace at all from Lenglet exposed the left side even more.
That's a fair point was anyone playing left midfield
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Not his best game but you could say that about everyone else. I think he was massively let down tonight by the lack of help in front of him. He was blowing out of his backside after about 20 minutes simply because when he went forward no one dropped in behind him and he was being asked to do an impossible job. The lack of any pace at all from Lenglet exposed the left side even more.
That's a fair point was anyone playing left midfield
It's been a problem position all season really. Tielemans, Zaniolo and McGinn have all been tried there and all looked out of place, and Ramsey hasn't hit the heights of last season on a consistent basis yet.
It's frustrating as the left side combination of Moreno and Ramsey worked so well at the end of last season, yet they've hardly played together so far and neither are in anywhere near the same form.
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Not his best game but you could say that about everyone else. I think he was massively let down tonight by the lack of help in front of him. He was blowing out of his backside after about 20 minutes simply because when he went forward no one dropped in behind him and he was being asked to do an impossible job. The lack of any pace at all from Lenglet exposed the left side even more.
That's a fair point was anyone playing left midfield
McGinn was left of a midfield 3 but it was just too narrow. A huge hole appeared when Moreno went forward and there was nobody helping him. When Ramsey appeared he suddenly had a bit more time because Ramsey dropped in and helped. It wasn’t his best game but you cannot leave your fullback exposed like that. The amount of times he got into a good attacking position and the ball was either not played or went out was also a huge problem.
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Not his best game but you could say that about everyone else. I think he was massively let down tonight by the lack of help in front of him. He was blowing out of his backside after about 20 minutes simply because when he went forward no one dropped in behind him and he was being asked to do an impossible job. The lack of any pace at all from Lenglet exposed the left side even more.
That's a fair point was anyone playing left midfield
McGinn was left of a midfield 3 but it was just too narrow. A huge hole appeared when Moreno went forward and there was nobody helping him. When Ramsey appeared he suddenly had a bit more time because Ramsey dropped in and helped. It wasn’t his best game but you cannot leave your fullback exposed like that. The amount of times he got into a good attacking position and the ball was either not played or went out was also a huge problem.
I'm not sure McGinn was meant to pull in that narrow. Bailey seemed unsure of his role too on the far side. We were all over the place.
Moreno looks to be running in treacle to me. This stage last season he was a lot sharper in all of his play. Even tonight a couple of times when he broke free the Chelsea RB got back and blocked his crosses, that didn't happen often last season. Defensively he is hesitant to engage down his flank, I'm wondering is he also missing Mings more than most. Mings had the athleticism to easily cover across the left behind Moreno, let's just say Lenglet struggles with that.
I think we will have to try Ramsey again on Sunday ahead of Moreno. Get McGinn over with Cash.
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Not his best game but you could say that about everyone else. I think he was massively let down tonight by the lack of help in front of him. He was blowing out of his backside after about 20 minutes simply because when he went forward no one dropped in behind him and he was being asked to do an impossible job. The lack of any pace at all from Lenglet exposed the left side even more.
That's a fair point was anyone playing left midfield
McGinn was left of a midfield 3 but it was just too narrow. A huge hole appeared when Moreno went forward and there was nobody helping him. When Ramsey appeared he suddenly had a bit more time because Ramsey dropped in and helped. It wasn’t his best game but you cannot leave your fullback exposed like that. The amount of times he got into a good attacking position and the ball was either not played or went out was also a huge problem.
I'm not sure McGinn was meant to pull in that narrow. Bailey seemed unsure of his role too on the far side. We were all over the place.
Moreno looks to be running in treacle to me. This stage last season he was a lot sharper in all of his play. Even tonight a couple of times when he broke free the Chelsea RB got back and blocked his crosses, that didn't happen often last season. Defensively he is hesitant to engage down his flank, I'm wondering is he also missing Mings more than most. Mings had the athleticism to easily cover across the left behind Moreno, let's just say Lenglet struggles with that.
I think we will have to try Ramsey again on Sunday ahead of Moreno. Get McGinn over with Cash.
That wouldn’t be a bad shout but doing the same as last night is not an option with Lenglet and Carlos playing.
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Not his best game but you could say that about everyone else. I think he was massively let down tonight by the lack of help in front of him. He was blowing out of his backside after about 20 minutes simply because when he went forward no one dropped in behind him and he was being asked to do an impossible job. The lack of any pace at all from Lenglet exposed the left side even more.
That's a fair point was anyone playing left midfield
McGinn was left of a midfield 3 but it was just too narrow. A huge hole appeared when Moreno went forward and there was nobody helping him. When Ramsey appeared he suddenly had a bit more time because Ramsey dropped in and helped. It wasn’t his best game but you cannot leave your fullback exposed like that. The amount of times he got into a good attacking position and the ball was either not played or went out was also a huge problem.
I'm not sure McGinn was meant to pull in that narrow. Bailey seemed unsure of his role too on the far side. We were all over the place.
Moreno looks to be running in treacle to me. This stage last season he was a lot sharper in all of his play. Even tonight a couple of times when he broke free the Chelsea RB got back and blocked his crosses, that didn't happen often last season. Defensively he is hesitant to engage down his flank, I'm wondering is he also missing Mings more than most. Mings had the athleticism to easily cover across the left behind Moreno, let's just say Lenglet struggles with that.
I think we will have to try Ramsey again on Sunday ahead of Moreno. Get McGinn over with Cash.
That dynamic pace we're used to seeing certainly seemed to be missing last night. It's not unusual for pacy players to lose a yard after a big hamstring injury like his, so I hope it's not permanent.
It's also entirely possible that Gusto is just very, very quick, and made Moreno look ordinary in terms of pace. I'm very much hoping it's the latter!
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He was just as bad against Newcastle though, and wasn't even up against Gordon like Cash was.
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I think we will have to try Ramsey again on Sunday ahead of Moreno. Get McGinn over with Cash.
I agree - a solid 4-4-2 with Watkins and Rogers pairing up front (bringing on Bailey and / or Diaby later on, to stretch a little wider).
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We do need someone backing him up and tucking in when he runs forward.
As an aside I think starting Rogers now would be bonkers.
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We do need someone backing him up and tucking in when he runs forward.
As an aside I think starting Rogers now would be bonkers.
;D ;D ;D - you may be right re Rogers, but we do need the ball to stick when we send it forwards. I'm sensing that part of the problem without Pau (and to a lesser extent, Konsa) is that when opponents press we are not getting the ball into places where we can build attacks: we're fannyong around at the back with CB who lack pace and passing quality.
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I agree on that, which is why Pau being back is absolutely vital.
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He’s massively struggling at the minute. He’s always been a suspect defensively, but seems like his lost his positional sense a bit - that one he left going across the box was dreadful today. Even going forward, where he can be very good, just isn’t working. Hope he can find it again soon.
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Struggles without Ramsey in front of him.
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He’s massively struggling at the minute. He’s always been a suspect defensively, but seems like his lost his positional sense a bit - that one he left going across the box was dreadful today. Even going forward, where he can be very good, just isn’t working. Hope he can find it again soon.
Very poor today, again confidence looks shot, when he receives the ball now his instinct is to move backwards with his left foot and just lay it off. Digne looks far better this season.
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Digne is the better player overall. I'd keep both anyway until one of the youngsters is ready to take over. The lad on loan at Plymouth maybe.
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I love him but he had a absolute stinker yesterday. Not sure what digne has to do to get a start but hopefully he will start in one of the next two
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He’s really struggling and yesterday when he just ran back into danger and lost the ball shows where his mindset is.
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Some of his crossing was so bad yesterday. Digne looked so much better when he cane on
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Mentioned him on the post match chat, but he needs to be second choice for rest of season. Terrible in both attack and defence since his return from injury - reboot and get him right during preseason.
If either of our fullbacks are off it, it’s our team’s Achilles heel - our major weakness. Wolves saw this yesterday, but thankfully failed to capitalise before Digne was brought on to cement it shut.
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Whilst Alex did have a bit of a stinker yesterday, Rogers was all over the place in his positioning in front of him for those first 20/30 minutes which left him massively exposed.
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He was, and that is definitely the area that Rogers needs to work on, but Moreno’s game and decision making is all over the place at the moment. Really hope he can click again soon, because he’s a good player but at the moment he’s a bit of a liability.
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Whilst Alex did have a bit of a stinker yesterday, Rogers was all over the place in his positioning in front of him for those first 20/30 minutes which left him massively exposed.
I tend to disagree. There were a number of occasions where I looked down and we had Rogers defending against their right winger with Moreno nowhere to be seen. Either tucked in hiding next to Pau, or casually jogging back from yet another failed attack.
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Moreno seems to have lost a bit of pace since his injury which means he isn't as effective as he was. Hopefully Digne will start at City.
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He hasn’t quite been to the level he was before the injury, but he also had a great understanding with JJ, so I wonder if that affected how he approaches things now
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Out for three weeks with a calf strain, as per John Townley of the Mail.
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Have a great Christmas and New Year Alex.
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Disappointed for Moreno. So he'll miss out on Lille Bournemouth Chelsea and maybe Brighton too.
He's hardly been fully fit this season made 20 appearances starting 11 matches and completing 5 matches.
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Christ almighty this season is a joke for injuries
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He must have done it in training since Sunday, unless anyone noticed him pull up / limp off?
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Another one.
Do we have any one who can play left back if Digne gets injured, Lenglet?
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Thats probably him done for the season realistically, unless he can get back for the final if we get there. Bit like Ramsey, his season hasn’t really got going. That left side was so dynamic last season.
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Just as Cash comes back, another one out injured. Incredible how we've coped this season. Other rivals are getting virtually full strength teams now, particularly Arsenal.