Remi Garde - Departs Aston Villa

[walsall villain]

For how long before Garde were we saying the squad is better than our position on the table, probably for the last three managers at least.
I think we were deluding ourselves myself probably more than others. We are constantly being beaten by very poor sides without any of the first team looking as though they are better than championship players. Westwood is a prime example, bought up from the lower division but has never looked like a premiership player, we have a squad full of Westwoods.

Well it was better with Benteke, Vlaar, Delph and Cleverley. They were perhaps making the others look better than they are?

[Steve67]

Just watched the second Stoke goal again on the telly. Bacuna doesn't close down, turns back on the ball, watches as the player sails past him and then literally stands watching. Fucking lazy bastard. That's why we are bottom. Yet Garde still picks him!! Several of them do the same. Scrap all round from top to bottom, including Remi I'm afraid.

[SheffieldVillain]

For how long before Garde were we saying the squad is better than our position on the table, probably for the last three managers at least.
I think we were deluding ourselves myself probably more than others. We are constantly being beaten by very poor sides without any of the first team looking as though they are better than championship players.

But then we have a number of players who have consistently performed a level well below their natural ability, largely due to attitude - Richards, Gabby, N'Zogbia being the three who I'm mostly thinking of. It's no coincidence that these are our senior players. If these three had played at full effort and ability, how much better would the squad look and how many more points would we have? We must have the worst set of senior pros ever, at a time when it should have been them holding the squad together.

[saunders_heroes]

For how long before Garde were we saying the squad is better than our position on the table, probably for the last three managers at least.
I think we were deluding ourselves myself probably more than others. We are constantly being beaten by very poor sides without any of the first team looking as though they are better than championship players.

But then we have a number of players who have consistently performed a level well below their natural ability, largely due to attitude - Richards, Gabby, N'Zogbia being the three who I'm mostly thinking of. It's no coincidence that these are our senior players. If these three had played at full effort and ability, how much better would the squad look and how many more points would we have? We must have the worst set of senior pros ever, at a time when it should have been them holding the squad together.

I don't think it's down to bad attitude, those 3 players you mentioned are just way past their best. At an ambitious club they would have been shown the door ages ago or not signed at all. They're a symptom of the club's decline, not a cause.

[SheffieldVillain]

For how long before Garde were we saying the squad is better than our position on the table, probably for the last three managers at least.
I think we were deluding ourselves myself probably more than others. We are constantly being beaten by very poor sides without any of the first team looking as though they are better than championship players.

But then we have a number of players who have consistently performed a level well below their natural ability, largely due to attitude - Richards, Gabby, N'Zogbia being the three who I'm mostly thinking of. It's no coincidence that these are our senior players. If these three had played at full effort and ability, how much better would the squad look and how many more points would we have? We must have the worst set of senior pros ever, at a time when it should have been them holding the squad together.

I don't think it's down to bad attitude, those 3 players you mentioned are just way past their best. At an ambitious club they would have been shown the door ages ago or not signed at all. They're a symptom of the club's decline, not a cause.

You don't think N'Zogbia has a bad attitude? Really? At no time in the five years he's robbed money off us he could have put in more effort? This is the man who just weeks ago said on Twitter that he shouldn't have to ever work to get the ball.

Gabby, I'll give you is probably past his best, but could he have done more in terms of conditioning to stop that happening?

In any case, these are the 'top pros' that the younger players, the players bought in from lower leagues have had to look up to. And we wonder why the likes of Westwood, Clark etc haven't really progressed at all.

[aj2k77]

With hindsight no ambitious club would have signed Micah Richards, he'd played 19 league games in 4 years. Part time player, he doesn't have the desire anymore by the looks of it.

[Chris Smith]

I think Garde needs to be offered the opportunity to start the rebuilding process. Let's face it if he does go there is no predicting who this club is likely to appoint so better to give him the chance to get a few of his own players in and see what he can do.

[SheffieldVillain]

With hindsight no ambitious club would have signed Micah Richards, he'd played 19 league games in 4 years. Part time player, he doesn't have the desire anymore by the looks of it.

Ditto Sinclair. 27 and 26 years old respectively. In terms of ability, more than good enough for a mid table team and in what should be the peak years of their careers. But just can't be bothered.

[saunders_heroes]

For how long before Garde were we saying the squad is better than our position on the table, probably for the last three managers at least.
I think we were deluding ourselves myself probably more than others. We are constantly being beaten by very poor sides without any of the first team looking as though they are better than championship players.

But then we have a number of players who have consistently performed a level well below their natural ability, largely due to attitude - Richards, Gabby, N'Zogbia being the three who I'm mostly thinking of. It's no coincidence that these are our senior players. If these three had played at full effort and ability, how much better would the squad look and how many more points would we have? We must have the worst set of senior pros ever, at a time when it should have been them holding the squad together.

I don't think it's down to bad attitude, those 3 players you mentioned are just way past their best. At an ambitious club they would have been shown the door ages ago or not signed at all. They're a symptom of the club's decline, not a cause.

You don't think N'Zogbia has a bad attitude? Really? At no time in the five years he's robbed money off us he could have put in more effort? This is the man who just weeks ago said on Twitter that he shouldn't have to ever work to get the ball.

Gabby, I'll give you is probably past his best, but could he have done more in terms of conditioning to stop that happening?

In any case, these are the 'top pros' that the younger players, the players bought in from lower leagues have had to look up to. And we wonder why the likes of Westwood, Clark etc haven't really progressed at all.

I'll tell you why Westwood and co haven't progressed, it's because they're shit and were never good enough for this level. Fans were taken in by the "young and hungry" hype but a blind man could have told you they were out of their depth in the PL. N'Zogbia is just farcical, but isn't he just the last of the 'bomb squad', players who are banished to the reserves because of their high wages?
The whole club is circus.

[Gregorys Boy]

With hindsight no ambitious club would have signed Micah Richards, he'd played 19 league games in 4 years. Part time player, he doesn't have the desire anymore by the looks of it.

Ditto Sinclair. 27 and 26 years old respectively. In terms of ability, more than good enough for a mid table team and in what should be the peak years of their careers. But just can't be bothered.

Hindsight really is a wonderful thing though.  I don't remember too many people complaining about Sinclair and Richard's as signings at the time.  Overall I still think Sinclair has been one of the better recent buys its just his form has dipped due to being part of such a poor side, and the fact that we never seem to play to his strengths.  Richards at the time seemed a logical buy, but has been a let down.

[Toronto Villa]

By the same token had the club signed Vardy and Mahrez for a combined £1.4m couldn't the same have been said about the ambition of the club or the quality of the players? How do you truly know the value of the players until they have had a chance to prove themselves? That we know Westwood (for example) isn't good enough is a combination of the player himself but also the constant flux and change in coaching he's had. He's now on his 3rd manager and constant relegation battle. He's played a part in that but it has to have affected his development and that of other players. Take Albrighton as the opposite example. A player few were upset to see go get has excelled in a very positive environment and under a very experienced coach. Westwood wasn't always a bad player but he hasn't improved or developed as he should have, and has probably regressed.

[aj2k77]

Take Bacuna as an example. He's atrocious now. If he stepped up to take a free kick now would anyone expect anything else other than him hitting the wall or someone in the upper Holte? Whatever has been going on at the training ground the last few years isn't right.

[Toronto Villa]

Take Bacuna as an example. He's atrocious now. If he stepped up to take a free kick now would anyone expect anything else other than him hitting the wall or someone in the upper Holte? Whatever has been going on at the training ground the last few years isn't right.

That's exactly my point. He was never this bad. Nobody was criticizing him to this level last season for example. But the circumstances have probably taken a toll on him too and he's a shadow of the player he was and the player he could have become. The problems all through the club have contributed to the players not only not being good enough but becoming a mirror image of lack of direction and care from those who run the club, most certainly the owner.

[SheffieldVillain]

With hindsight no ambitious club would have signed Micah Richards, he'd played 19 league games in 4 years. Part time player, he doesn't have the desire anymore by the looks of it.

Ditto Sinclair. 27 and 26 years old respectively. In terms of ability, more than good enough for a mid table team and in what should be the peak years of their careers. But just can't be bothered.

Hindsight really is a wonderful thing though.  I don't remember too many people complaining about Sinclair and Richard's as signings at the time.  Overall I still think Sinclair has been one of the better recent buys its just his form has dipped due to being part of such a poor side, and the fact that we never seem to play to his strengths.  Richards at the time seemed a logical buy, but has been a let down.

Oh, absolutely. I thought they would both be great signings. But examples of the point I'm trying to make that our senior players in no way live up to their actual ability.

[SheffieldVillain]

For how long before Garde were we saying the squad is better than our position on the table, probably for the last three managers at least.
I think we were deluding ourselves myself probably more than others. We are constantly being beaten by very poor sides without any of the first team looking as though they are better than championship players.

But then we have a number of players who have consistently performed a level well below their natural ability, largely due to attitude - Richards, Gabby, N'Zogbia being the three who I'm mostly thinking of. It's no coincidence that these are our senior players. If these three had played at full effort and ability, how much better would the squad look and how many more points would we have? We must have the worst set of senior pros ever, at a time when it should have been them holding the squad together.

I don't think it's down to bad attitude, those 3 players you mentioned are just way past their best. At an ambitious club they would have been shown the door ages ago or not signed at all. They're a symptom of the club's decline, not a cause.

You don't think N'Zogbia has a bad attitude? Really? At no time in the five years he's robbed money off us he could have put in more effort? This is the man who just weeks ago said on Twitter that he shouldn't have to ever work to get the ball.

Gabby, I'll give you is probably past his best, but could he have done more in terms of conditioning to stop that happening?

In any case, these are the 'top pros' that the younger players, the players bought in from lower leagues have had to look up to. And we wonder why the likes of Westwood, Clark etc haven't really progressed at all.

I'll tell you why Westwood and co haven't progressed, it's because they're shit and were never good enough for this level. Fans were taken in by the "young and hungry" hype but a blind man could have told you they were out of their depth in the PL.

When thrown in and expected to instantaneously be first team players yes. Coached properly, with loan spells used properly, with good senior pros to look up to and copy, with consistent management - who knows?