Adama Traore - CONFIRMED

[Steve67]

Good shout on Baker. Served his apprenticeship this season at an improving Bristol City. If, big if, we can bring in an organiser, to play next to him, then we might be getting back a half decent player.  I thought Baker was always prone to an error per match or going to ground, diving in a bit early, but there is a player in there somewhere.

As for Traore. Free spirit but perhaps better coaching might see a better player. Unreliable but exciting.

[Duncan Shaw]

We do indeed Clamps. Weimann's work ethic is lost to us but Baker's bravery alone will shine next season.  At places like Millwall next season Nathan Baker will win MOTM carrying his head in  Tesco bag.

just like he did in the cup match there?

[passport1]

Traore mentioned in an interview shortly after he signed that he needed to work on his tactical awareness.  All I have seen merely confirms this. He has natural ability but still has much to learn. Maybe the Championship will be a more forgiving environment for him .

[Monty]

I'd put Traore in the 'Jury's Out' category of our players, along with Grealish and Veretout (I have a good feeling about Veretout though). The 'Good Enough Already' category consists of Ayew, Gana, and I would argue Amavi. Everyone else is terrible (apart from youth players who I don't know much about).

[paul_e]

I'd put Traore in the 'Jury's Out' category of our players, along with Grealish and Veretout (I have a good feeling about Veretout though). The 'Good Enough Already' category consists of Ayew, Gana, and I would argue Amavi. Everyone else is terrible (apart from youth players who I don't know much about).

I'd agree with your 6 and be looking to build a side around them.  I'd be tempted to play 5 of those as our midfield

New Keeper
new RB | Okore | Baker | Amavi
Veretout | Gana
Adama | Grealish | Ayew
New Striker

I think that's good enough for the championship and means we're looking for 3 starters.  The likes of Okore and Baker (and Clark and a few others) might turn out ok if we can get them into a confident side, these are all players who've only ever known struggle as Villa players and it's beaten the confidence out of them.

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

I'd put Traore in the 'Jury's Out' category of our players, along with Grealish and Veretout (I have a good feeling about Veretout though). The 'Good Enough Already' category consists of Ayew, Gana, and I would argue Amavi. Everyone else is terrible (apart from youth players who I don't know much about).

I'd agree with your 6 and be looking to build a side around them.  I'd be tempted to play 5 of those as our midfield

New Keeper
new RB | Okore | Baker | Amavi
Veretout | Gana
Adama | Grealish | Ayew
New Striker

I think that's good enough for the championship and means we're looking for 3 starters.  The likes of Okore and Baker (and Clark and a few others) might turn out ok if we can get them into a confident side, these are all players who've only ever known struggle as Villa players and it's beaten the confidence out of them.

I like the look of that. Would probably prefer Clark as a starter over Baker, just!!! But yes, that has the making of a decent first 11 with some of the youngsters and other squad fillers to back them up

[in exile]

I'd put Traore in the 'Jury's Out' category of our players, along with Grealish and Veretout (I have a good feeling about Veretout though). The 'Good Enough Already' category consists of Ayew, Gana, and I would argue Amavi. Everyone else is terrible (apart from youth players who I don't know much about).

I'd agree with your 6 and be looking to build a side around them.  I'd be tempted to play 5 of those as our midfield

New Keeper
new RB | Okore | Baker | Amavi
Veretout | Gana
Adama | Grealish | Ayew
New Striker

I think that's good enough for the championship and means we're looking for 3 starters.  The likes of Okore and Baker (and Clark and a few others) might turn out ok if we can get them into a confident side, these are all players who've only ever known struggle as Villa players and it's beaten the confidence out of them.

I just can't see Gana & Ayew being here next season

[PeterWithesShin]

We do indeed Clamps. Weimann's work ethic is lost to us but Baker's bravery alone will shine next season.  At places like Millwall next season Nathan Baker will win MOTM carrying his head in  Tesco bag.

just like he did in the cup match there?

Baker didn't play in that game. It was Clark and Vlaar.

[SteveN]

Given that there might be not a lot of cash to splash I would be trying  Gardner as the "sitting" midfielder and looking at making a goalkeeper and a goalscorer a priority.

[chrisw1]

I'd put Traore in the 'Jury's Out' category of our players, along with Grealish and Veretout (I have a good feeling about Veretout though). The 'Good Enough Already' category consists of Ayew, Gana, and I would argue Amavi. Everyone else is terrible (apart from youth players who I don't know much about).

I'd agree with your 6 and be looking to build a side around them.  I'd be tempted to play 5 of those as our midfield

New Keeper
new RB | Okore | Baker | Amavi
Veretout | Gana
Adama | Grealish | Ayew
New Striker

I think that's good enough for the championship and means we're looking for 3 starters.  The likes of Okore and Baker (and Clark and a few others) might turn out ok if we can get them into a confident side, these are all players who've only ever known struggle as Villa players and it's beaten the confidence out of them.

Other than the 'new striker' that looks strangely like a team that has been embarrassed countless times this season. We'd be nuts to start out with that next year.

[SheffieldVillain]

I'd put Traore in the 'Jury's Out' category of our players, along with Grealish and Veretout (I have a good feeling about Veretout though). The 'Good Enough Already' category consists of Ayew, Gana, and I would argue Amavi. Everyone else is terrible (apart from youth players who I don't know much about).

I'd agree with your 6 and be looking to build a side around them.  I'd be tempted to play 5 of those as our midfield

New Keeper
new RB | Okore | Baker | Amavi
Veretout | Gana
Adama | Grealish | Ayew
New Striker

I think that's good enough for the championship and means we're looking for 3 starters.  The likes of Okore and Baker (and Clark and a few others) might turn out ok if we can get them into a confident side, these are all players who've only ever known struggle as Villa players and it's beaten the confidence out of them.

Other than the 'new striker' that looks strangely like a team that has been embarrassed countless times this season. We'd be nuts to start out with that next year.

I don't think it does. Baker hasn't been here this season, Amavi has been out for months as have Adama and Grealish. If you add to that the three new players, that's 7 players who haven't played week in week out this season. The remaining four have been some of our 'better' players - Ayew, Okore, Gana, Veretout.

I agree with an earlier poster though that I don't think Ayew or Gana will be here. I also think Okore will be off.

[paul_e]

I'd put Traore in the 'Jury's Out' category of our players, along with Grealish and Veretout (I have a good feeling about Veretout though). The 'Good Enough Already' category consists of Ayew, Gana, and I would argue Amavi. Everyone else is terrible (apart from youth players who I don't know much about).

I'd agree with your 6 and be looking to build a side around them.  I'd be tempted to play 5 of those as our midfield

New Keeper
new RB | Okore | Baker | Amavi
Veretout | Gana
Adama | Grealish | Ayew
New Striker

I think that's good enough for the championship and means we're looking for 3 starters.  The likes of Okore and Baker (and Clark and a few others) might turn out ok if we can get them into a confident side, these are all players who've only ever known struggle as Villa players and it's beaten the confidence out of them.

Other than the 'new striker' that looks strangely like a team that has been embarrassed countless times this season. We'd be nuts to start out with that next year.

Which fits nicely with my belief that the keeper and striker are our 2 major problems, we have a defence that is a nervous wreck and an attack with no focus.  I'm not dismissing poor performances elsewhere just pointing out that there are 2 key weak links.

Also, as SV says, Baker, Amavi, Grealish and Traore haven't played much and I'd argue that Veretout and Okopre have been in and out of the side as well so only really Ayew and Gana of that list have been regulars and I'd personally have them as the only 2 players who can come out of the season thinking they've done enough.  That's also why they're the 2 who, as people have stated, we might struggle to keep hold of.

[Monty]

At the back Richards, Clark and Lescott have been the principle embarrassments. In midfield, that honour goes jointly to Westwood and Bacuna, and up front to Gabby and Gestede.

[frankmosswasmyuncle]

At the back Richards, Clark and Lescott have been the principle embarrassments. In midfield, that honour goes jointly to Westwood and Bacuna, and up front to Gabby and Gestede.

5 of those 7 are good old British players though Monty, so you must be wrong...all the experts keep telling us that if we had more of them we'd be challenging Leicester fecking City!




Couldn't agree with you more!

[CT Villan]

Given that there might be not a lot of cash to splash I would be trying  Gardner as the "sitting" midfielder and looking at making a goalkeeper and a goalscorer a priority.

I'm not sure I would restrict him to sitting midfielder as he can definitely put the ball in the net, but I agree that he should be given a chance in the team. The Forest fans seem to love him.