Transfer Speculation / Gossip

[Clampy]

Blues thought they were safe in March the season they went down. Last season was too close for comfort.

[old man villa fan]

I've said this before but we were very lucky Norwich had the horrible run in that they did because we were absolutely woeful from the Chelsea game onwards.

All teams play the same teams over the season.  Norwich having a difficult run in just meant they did not collect enough points in their 'easier' games earlier.  Anybody looking at form at the time would have realised Norwich were almost in an impossible situation.  There was no luck about it.

[old man villa fan]

Mathematically yes, realistically no.  To have gone down from that point would've required a bunch of results to go other than they did which wasn't very likely.  The win against Hull removed any lingering threat but in reality had no bearing on us staying up, I can't put it any simpler thanthat.

Exactly.  We weren't safe from relegation even in May.  Not at the end of March as some insist on claiming.  No-one could possibly say with certainty at the end of March that we were safe.  You can only do that in the close season with the luxury of hindsight, at which point it's entirely academic anyway.  The only reason I keep pointing this out is because some keep repeating it as if it's true, which it isn't.

Anyway, back to transfer speculation.  Oh there isn't any.

There are two views based on looking at the situation at different points in time.  These views represent just about all discussions on this forum and are generally polar opposite.  It is getting to the point that there are not many members with balanced views that cross from one side to the other.  The entrenched views on the club/management/team are to a large extent becoming boring.

Getting back to the point, looking back at the end of the season we had collected enough points by March to be safe and that is reality.  At the time in March, we were not safe as there were many matched to be played and many points that could have gone to different teams.  Looking at the latter point, there were people that were very pessimistic, very optimistic and many positions between.  At the end of the day, the people that were a optimistic but a little worried that had the correct view of the situation facing the club.

Twisting words to suit a persons argument does not lead to interesting debate.

Please do not take this as just a comment about your post as it applies to many members.  I support the club and perhaps I hold back on criticism of the owner/manager/players at times as I believe support and encouragement can lift the team.  I do, however, view things realistically and try and take everything into account before criticising.

[Clampy]

I've said this before but we were very lucky Norwich had the horrible run in that they did because we were absolutely woeful from the Chelsea game onwards.

All teams play the same teams over the season.  Norwich having a difficult run in just meant they did not collect enough points in their 'easier' games earlier.  Anybody looking at form at the time would have realised Norwich were almost in an impossible situation.  There was no luck about it.

Maybe fortunate is the right word then rather than lucky. I bet a few stripeyfilth fans have already winced at their run in for next season.

[hilts_coolerking]

Getting back to the point, looking back at the end of the season we had collected enough points by March to be safe and that is reality.  At the time in March, we were not safe as there were many matched to be played and many points that could have gone to different teams.

I agree and that is my point in a nutshell.  Looking back in hindsight is all well and good but completely academic.  In March and even as late as the beginning of May we weren't safe.  That's the reality.

[CAitken]

I've said this before but we were very lucky Norwich had the horrible run in that they did because we were absolutely woeful from the Chelsea game onwards.

Actually it is a ridiculous point as they would have played them earlier in the season and got 1 point so eeven if thier last 4 games were against teams they beat they would have been another 11 points fewer. You have to play everybody twice . Sunderland seemed to do ok with a similar set of fixtures.

Good point, and it is worth remembering that in the game at our place, they were a goal up and had carved our defence open several times before Benteke's wonder goal turned the tide. With that cock McNally for a CE though, they deserved to go down.

[Steve67]

I suggest that we just agree that Villa have been crap for far too long and they need to get better!  There. Let's move on to pretending that we are bringing in quality players to arrest the malaise.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

I jusy read Silvio Berlusconi says Mario Balotelli almost moved to a mystery Premier League club before the World Cup. I wonder if it was us?

[adrenachrome]

I've said this before but we were very lucky Norwich had the horrible run in that they did because we were absolutely woeful from the Chelsea game onwards.

All teams play the same teams over the season.  Norwich having a difficult run in just meant they did not collect enough points in their 'easier' games earlier.  Anybody looking at form at the time would have realised Norwich were almost in an impossible situation.  There was no luck about it.

I take your point OMVF, and I agree with you that most analysts thought Norwich had the toughest run-in, but I have often thought in past seasons how teams must hate playing us in the wrong phase.  For example, all those seasons where we started well, faded badly and then finished well. Sometimes displaying CL qualifying form in one phase, and relegation form in the next.  Almost like playing different teams.

[LeeB]

Arsenal looking at loaning out Joel Campbell again according to reports.  From what I've seen of him in Brazil, and if we're not in the market to spend more than twenty quid on anyone, we should be in there like a shot.

One of the few Champions League games I've watched in recent years was Olympiacos beating Manure over there, and to quote a scouser describing Benteke, he stood out like a hard-on in a pair of pyjamas.
What I've seen of him this summer has merely confirmed him as absolute quality, I can't believe they're going to send him out again when it's the one area they're genuinely wank.

[old man villa fan]

Getting back to the point, looking back at the end of the season we had collected enough points by March to be safe and that is reality.  At the time in March, we were not safe as there were many matched to be played and many points that could have gone to different teams.

I agree and that is my point in a nutshell.  Looking back in hindsight is all well and good but completely academic.  In March and even as late as the beginning of May we weren't safe.  That's the reality.

You do not want to see both sides of the argument, do you.

[Chris Smith]

Getting back to the point, looking back at the end of the season we had collected enough points by March to be safe and that is reality.  At the time in March, we were not safe as there were many matched to be played and many points that could have gone to different teams.

I agree and that is my point in a nutshell.  Looking back in hindsight is all well and good but completely academic.  In March and even as late as the beginning of May we weren't safe.  That's the reality.

It is just different descriptions of the same reality, or to put it more lyrically:

Potato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto
Let's call the whole thing off?

[silhillvilla]

With Kozak and Benteke both injured, Holt Fonz Bowery all gone, surely Bent will be starting or on the bench come August. I see that as a positive.

[Villa in Denmark]

With Kozak and Benteke both injured, Holt Fonz Bowery all gone, surely Bent will be starting or on the bench come August. I see that as a positive.

Can't agree. Bent is a square peg in a round hole for the way we appear to want to play.

In addition injuries and / or lack of conditioning have left him short if that acceleration over the first couple of yards that used to get him into most of his scoring positions, so even if we still tried to play a style that suited him, he still wouldn't be the answer.

[paulcomben]

With Kozak and Benteke both injured, Holt Fonz Bowery all gone, surely Bent will be starting or on the bench come August. I see that as a positive.

Can't agree. Bent is a square peg in a round hole for the way we appear to want to play.

In addition injuries and / or lack of conditioning have left him short if that acceleration over the first couple of yards that used to get him into most of his scoring positions, so even if we still tried to play a style that suited him, he still wouldn't be the answer.

I have been pondering that. There must be a signing planned. If not, we are very light at centre forward. Or, maybe they expect Cole to slide in Bent, whereas he is no use as a target man for balls from the back or wings.