Remi Garde - Departs Aston Villa

[Rioch is King]

What has happened to Gary Gardner? he had an impressive spell with Forest last season didn't he? - perhaps I've missed somehting and he's gone out on loan again or got injured.

[Toronto Villa]

What has happened to Gary Gardner? he had an impressive spell with Forest last season didn't he? - perhaps I've missed somehting and he's gone out on loan again or got injured.

what happened to Gardner is what always happens to Gardner. The most injured footballer since Ivo Stas.

[tomd2103]

When Newcastle went down, they used it to shed themselves of some real non-contributing wage guzzling duds, kept most of the ones they wanted to keep, and came straight back up.

That's what we need to be thinking.

Yep.  In Okore, Amavi, Gana, Veretout and Ayew we have a young nucleus of players that with the right players around them, would see us come straight back up and make a decent fist of it in the top flight.  I think Lescott and Richards would be fine in the Championship, but the former would definitely need replacing if we went back up.  If used correctly, I think Grealish and Gil would be too good for a lot of a Championship sides as well.

[BoskoDjembaSalifou]

I'll probably receive criticism for this because "OMG you're writing him off after 6 games!!!!11 give him the chair!!!!!", but I'd be tempted to sack him and appoint someone who wants to have a go. The line up and subsequent non-substitutions yesterday were a disgrace, would we have made any changes had De Jong scored, I wonder?

A bit negative, so I want to point out that I like Garde and have faith in him long term, but I'm just so pissed off that we seem to be accepting relegation. Why can't we start throwing some punches? We might end up getting knocked out, but it's worth losing on points with a bit of pride.

Maybe I'm overreacting a bit. Like I said, I like the guy, but drawing games isn't gonna keep us up

[Toronto Villa]

How can you faith in someone long term that you want fired today? You have to laugh.

[adrenachrome]

When Newcastle went down, they used it to shed themselves of some real non-contributing wage guzzling duds, kept most of the ones they wanted to keep, and came straight back up.

That's what we need to be thinking.

They were in the fortunate position of having Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan, who were too good for the Championship, and those two were mostly responsible for bringing them back up.  Other than maybe Ayew, I don't think we've got many players we can say that about.

The three Jordans would tear up that league. Traore would blossom. Okore would be way too good for that level, as would Gana, and if young Jack can see the light it would be the making of him.

The rest can fuck off though.

I have a horrible feeling that at least four of that lot will end up playing in the Champions League, and we'll be watching them.

That has been my concern as well. An astute talent spotter would surely spot the potential of these players. During the Arsenal game, an old guy sitting a few seats away could be heard muttering, "that was good, he'll be gone". 

[PeterWithesShin]

Andy Carroll scored 17 goals when Newcastle pissed the division. Less than Rudy got last season for mid-table Blackburn. Rudy is considered one of our worst players yet did more in that division than Newcastle's best player. We'll smash that division.

[ROBBO]

PWS I hope your right but every other team will be after our scalp.

[damon loves JT]

PWS I hope your right but every other team will be after our scalp.

Bring it!

[oldtimernow]

When Newcastle went down, they used it to shed themselves of some real non-contributing wage guzzling duds, kept most of the ones they wanted to keep, and came straight back up.

That's what we need to be thinking.

Oh yes and we were in the market for one of them thanks to MON

[old man villa fan]

The manager is coming in for a bit of criticism from some but how many of the squad does he have available to select from. I think he would love to have another strong defensive midfield player to select from, as well as an experienced mobile forward, another central defender and a couple of fullbacks. As he hasn't, he is nursing the team along.

The only options I can see is switching to a Gestede led attack (not been successful to date) with no supply or bringing in Grealish or Gill. I would love to see him bring Traore in but that is a huge gamble based on his inexperience.

I do not see a stand out alternative to the minor changes he is making. I thought going to a midfield four was a good move as it gave us an extra body in there, even though I don't rate Westwood.

[ozzjim]

Andy Carroll scored 17 goals when Newcastle pissed the division. Less than Rudy got last season for mid-table Blackburn. Rudy is considered one of our worst players yet did more in that division than Newcastle's best player. We'll smash that division.

Agreed if we can keep much of the squad. 

[itbrvilla]

Andy Carroll scored 17 goals when Newcastle pissed the division. Less than Rudy got last season for mid-table Blackburn. Rudy is considered one of our worst players yet did more in that division than Newcastle's best player. We'll smash that division.

Agreed if we can keep much of the squad. 

I bet most of them will have release clauses.

[cdward]

The manager is coming in for a bit of criticism from some but how many of the squad does he have available to select from. I think he would love to have another strong defensive midfield player to select from, as well as an experienced mobile forward, another central defender and a couple of fullbacks. As he hasn't, he is nursing the team along.

The only options I can see is switching to a Gestede led attack (not been successful to date) with no supply or bringing in Grealish or Gill. I would love to see him bring Traore in but that is a huge gamble based on his inexperience.

I do not see a stand out alternative to the minor changes he is making. I thought going to a midfield four was a good move as it gave us an extra body in there, even though I don't rate Westwood.

That's what a few years of under investment leaves us, very thin on cover for the first team.
We have lost some good midfielders over the last few years, but have always been able to replace with equally good quality (Barry, Milner, Petrov, Delph) until now.
He played 4 in midfield to match Newcastle, and explained post match didn't bring on Traore because of the wet conditions.
 
The thing i really like about Garde, is that we can see what he is doing, and why, and there is a thought process behind his decisions.
I like the way he is handling the players too, Grealish, Gabby, N'Zog, he is giving good assessments of them.
His hands are tied when it comes to the squad, although he did have the young midfielder Jordan Lyden on the bench against Arsenal, so he is obviously trying to use the squad.

[PaulWinch again]

I'll probably receive criticism for this because "OMG you're writing him off after 6 games!!!!11 give him the chair!!!!!", but I'd be tempted to sack him and appoint someone who wants to have a go. The line up and subsequent non-substitutions yesterday were a disgrace, would we have made any changes had De Jong scored, I wonder?

A bit negative, so I want to point out that I like Garde and have faith in him long term, but I'm just so pissed off that we seem to be accepting relegation. Why can't we start throwing some punches? We might end up getting knocked out, but it's worth losing on points with a bit of pride.

Maybe I'm overreacting a bit. Like I said, I like the guy, but drawing games isn't gonna keep us up

He has to build a base of confidence that will survive losing a couple of games. He may not have enough time to save us, but it's the only way we can potentially win enough games to stay up. Sacking him would be the worst possible decision they could make.