Christian Purslow - Resigned

[Luke8]

Which is all lovely in theory but the reality is that those experienced players and Premier League standard striker would have all cost significantly more than the signings that we made in transfer fee and wages.

Says who?  That's pure speculation. 

I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say players with experience of playing in this league for a couple of season generally cost more money.

And that’s without getting into availability and the players willingness to come to the club.

[cdbearsfan]

I think we've just missed a little bit of top flight class.

Signing Cahill instead of Engels.  Kalvin Phillips instead of Nakamba and Danny Ings instead of Wesley would have made such a difference.

Maybe Cahill is settled in London. Philips didn't seem in any great rush to leave. Ings would have got injured three seconds into his Villa debut.

[hilts_coolerking]

I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say players with experience of playing in this league for a couple of season generally cost more money.

And that’s without getting into availability and the players willingness to come to the club.

Sorry, I just don't believe that our hands were utterly tied and the players we ended up with were the best we could get.  Not a chance.  Neither do I believe we were totally unable to bring in any experienced players.  That's ridiculous.

[Luke8]

I think we've just missed a little bit of top flight class.

Signing Cahill instead of Engels.  Kalvin Phillips instead of Nakamba and Danny Ings instead of Wesley would have made such a difference.

Maybe Cahill is settled in London. Philips didn't seem in any great rush to leave. Ings would have got injured three seconds into his Villa debut.

Quite. Transfers are so complicated and have so many different variables/factors that can change very quickly. It’s a bit simple to say we should have just signed this player because he is better. There would be very few bad signings if this was the case.

Also, you have to factor in that we must be very close to the line with FFP regarding wages and I reckon the Ings and Cahill are on significantly more than Engles and Wesley so they are not necessarily a like for like comparison in a financial sense either.

[Footy-Vill]

Out of interest, what strategy would you have employed given that, upon promotion, we had about ten senior players under contract, the majority of who were clearly not going to be of a standard to play consistent as a starter at this level?

The recruitment obviously shouldn’t be without criticism at all, but it was a really tough situation we were in.

Isn't it obvious?  I would have signed a mix of young players and wiser, older heads.  There is absolutely no reason why we should have signed so many untested players.  It was never going to work.  And I wouldn't have gone into the season with three attacking options: a Brazilian kid, a has been whose injury ruined him, and a perma-crocked kid who doesn't score.

exactly, with a smattering of sensible loans as needed.

Suso was the one pushing for Luiz and Wesley.
And I don't just say that myself but so did John Percy. And many seem to hang by his everyword.
Those 2 signings needed to be surrounded and supplement by others as they have potential but hopes resting on these 2 were foolish.
Then in winter window the move to experienced players of Reina and Drinkwater !
I actually could make a case for Hutton and Whelan staying on for a year. In and around the squad.

[chrisw1]

I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say players with experience of playing in this league for a couple of season generally cost more money.

And that’s without getting into availability and the players willingness to come to the club.

Sorry, I just don't believe that our hands were utterly tied and the players we ended up with were the best we could get.  Not a chance.  Neither do I believe we were totally unable to bring in any experienced players.  That's ridiculous.

Again I agree.

[ChicagoLion]

There have been comments on here and elsewhere. Even Percy article suggests that Suso is under pressure

Ta.  There seems to be a bit of blame avoidance going on at the club when the reality is that they are all to blame for where we are.

ETA.  It was only a few days ago that he was defending the recruitment, saying it wasn't a risk, they had no other options and "there was no other way to do it."

Out of interest, what strategy would you have employed given that, upon promotion, we had about ten senior players under contract, the majority of who were clearly not going to be of a standard to play consistent as a starter at this level?

The recruitment obviously shouldn’t be without criticism at all, but it was a really tough situation we were in.

I’ve seen some right rubbish written by so called villa fans on Twitter since the weekend. One rant suggested we should have stuck with Jedinak, Hutton and the like. Yep, that would have made a real difference.

Have a look at some of the subs Smith has made from winning positions,then ask your self who would you want coming off the bench Jota Kodija or a Jedi or Whelan.
I think we might have a few more points with a little bit more nous.

[mr underhill]

the latter two were breathing out of their arses after 60 minutes from the moment they signed. Jota was basically a ruse to get rid of Gardner and Kodjia was one of the reasons I bought a season ticket again after years of not doing so. That first season he was great to watch and not his fault that his career was ruined by ankle injuries.

[ChicagoLion]

the latter two were breathing out of their arses after 60 minutes from the moment they signed. Jota was basically a ruse to get rid of Gardner and Kodjia was one of the reasons I bought a season ticket again after years of not doing so. That first season he was great to watch and not his fault that his career was ruined by ankle injuries.

I would not start any of them but either of the latter would be more effective if you are trying to close a game out for 15 minutes.

[Luke8]

I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say players with experience of playing in this league for a couple of season generally cost more money.

And that’s without getting into availability and the players willingness to come to the club.

Sorry, I just don't believe that our hands were utterly tied and the players we ended up with were the best we could get.  Not a chance.  Neither do I believe we were totally unable to bring in any experienced players.  That's ridiculous.

Obviously, especially with the benefit of hindsight, we could in theory have signed better players. That is sort of based on the theory that you’re comparing transfers like for like which they just simply aren’t. And i imagine it’s pretty much true to at least a small degree for every team in every transfer window.

The original point was about the transfer strategy - namely young players with the potential to improve. Our hands were clearly tied by the fact that  we came up with a squad of about ten players, a lot of which were clearly unsuitable to play anything more than a supporting role at this level, and also that we were obviously restricted in our budget for transfers and wages by FFP. Proven quality and premier league experience costs money - if we would have signed more players that fit that profile we would have had to sacrifice elsewhere.

Yes, they could have perhaps done a slightly better job but I don’t think it was a bad effort and an understandable strategy given the difficult circumstances.

[Steve67]

I actually thought he was rude and should have given the reporters the time of day.  We need answers!

[Sexual Ealing]

I think a junior sub at the Guardian might have blown David Conn's source with the choice of photo for this piece!
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/13/english-football-shutdown-until-april-means-season-may-never-be-completed?CMP=share_btn_tw

[LeeB]

I think a junior sub at the Guardian might have blown David Conn's source with the choice of photo for this piece!
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/13/english-football-shutdown-until-april-means-season-may-never-be-completed?CMP=share_btn_tw

I think a junior sub at the Guardian might have blown David Conn's source with the choice of photo for this piece!
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/mar/13/english-football-shutdown-until-april-means-season-may-never-be-completed?CMP=share_btn_tw

They've been using various photos of a locked Villa Park as headers for their general coronavirus football updates.

Typical Mancs, trying to subliminally pin it on us Brummies.

[ChicagoLion]

Best estimates are that we are 12 weeks away from something like normality and There are 10 weeks of matches which could be squeezed into 8 so you are looking at 20 weeks for this season to be over if they try and complete the PL season and that takes you to August and ignores any cup or European games.
I just don’t see how that is possible.
Even if they cobbled a committee  together to vote for relegation they would be bogged down in law suits which would stop that happening.
The FootballLeague would have to agree amongst its members to put forward teams for promotion and again any looked over Club would have justification to take the EFL to court.
All they need to award 'The Mighty Reds YNWA' the title is Citeh agreement and they would obviously acquiesce.

[Mister E]

Best estimates are that we are 12 weeks away from something like normality and There are 10 weeks of matches which could be squeezed into 8 so you are looking at 20 weeks for this season to be over if they try and complete the PL season and that takes you to August and ignores any cup or European games.
I just don’t see how that is possible...

Yes.
With the complication of contracts expiring, loaned players, transfer windows to open and players to have some recovery period, it is difficult to see beyond a null-and-void strategy.
The clubs are unlikely to vote for complexity and will want to see something close to a normal season start again, for the sake of the TV companies' money.