Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[oldtimernow]

Buendia's a proper street fight footballer. There was a point yesterday where he shrugged off three or four defenders and pushed through the lines. Last season, Grealish would have taken the foul and the defence would have reset. In a few weeks time, with Bailey, Ings and Watkins piling forward in front of Buendia, we will have the power, guile and finishers to terrify defenders.

I really like Buendia but I don't think he has anything like the close control like the City player has on the ball. Buendia lost the ball a few times in the second half yesterday that at his best Grealish simply doesnt. Grealish has a yard of pace to get away from players too that Buendia doesn't. Buendia takes risks on the ball and that is something we need. Comparing them is harsh, I prefer to compare Buendia to Barkley (has he retired?).

I think he's starting his career as a pundit now.

Doesn't have the Micah charisma mind

[Matt C]

I’ve got to think there’s going to be some bargains to be had in the last couple of days of the window when clubs who need the money - and there’s plenty of them - decide to cash in. Really hoping we’ll use our position to capitalize.

[Monty]

Would a defensive midfielder have made any difference yesterday
We didn’t create enough even Dean Smith said that

We bought one of the premiership’s best strikers and gave him nothing
Bailey and Watkins will obviously make a difference
But they are attacking options not defensive midfielders

I’m certainly not against buying that type of player but I think our problems go deeper

Of course a great DM makes a difference. You can't attack if you can't win the ball, and in the top division these days you need to work spaces through the middle third of the pitch to create chances in the final third. There's no more just giving it to attackers and hoping they dribble past a defence that's set and in position (incidentally, why do we feel like we've been saying this for twelve years? Villa have had this problem for ages, no matter the players, the managers, even the owners).

[Scott Nielsen]

I can't help but wonder if the forced loss of G has re-shaped the much vaunted "project". Maybe the realization of what it would cost to buy ourselves into credible top 4-challengers is simply deemed prohibitive or unachievable. As opposed to having continued to invest in a team built around G.

[Lastfootstamper]

The McKennie links are still live. It could well come down to a charm offensive as we try to convince him we're a tastier prospect than three sides that finished above us last season in spuds, spam and toffees.

[ChicagoLion]

I can't help but wonder if the forced loss of G has re-shaped the much vaunted "project". Maybe the realization of what it would cost to buy ourselves into credible top 4-challengers is simply deemed prohibitive or unachievable. As opposed to having continued to invest in a team built around G.

the gap without the idiot maybe just too big and we are now in the slow and steady strategy.

[paul_e]

Would a defensive midfielder have made any difference yesterday
We didn’t create enough even Dean Smith said that

We bought one of the premiership’s best strikers and gave him nothing
Bailey and Watkins will obviously make a difference
But they are attacking options not defensive midfielders

I’m certainly not against buying that type of player but I think our problems go deeper

Of course a great DM makes a difference. You can't attack if you can't win the ball, and in the top division these days you need to work spaces through the middle third of the pitch to create chances in the final third. There's no more just giving it to attackers and hoping they dribble past a defence that's set and in position (and why do some of us feel like we've been saying this for twelve years? Villa have had this problem for ages, no matter the players, the managers, even the owners).

Yep the most effective teams in world football right now are fantastic in trasition from defence to attack, win the ball, protect it and look to play into gaps where the opposition had pushed forward. THAT game against Liverpool was a masterclass in it, one of the most ruthless performances I've ever seen by anyone.

Some teams will setup to hold their shape so we need a way to break them down as well but I think we gave the players (bailey and traore mainly) to do that once they're fit.

[Flin5tone]

It feels from Dean's interviews and generally seeming pleased with a draw at home to Brentford we are just aiming to stay in the League

We still haven't brought in a replacement for JT or ROK. and haven't even spent all of the Jack Grealish money

Very worrying

[Mister E]

Nikola Vlasic to Wetspam, according to the gRauniad

[paul_e]

It feels from Dean's interviews and generally seeming pleased with a draw at home to Brentford we are just aiming to stay in the League

We still haven't brought in a replacement for JT or ROK. and haven't even spent all of the Jack Grealish money

Very worrying

No it doesn't, it feels like he thinks a point was decent given the injury crisis.

We've got 1 new coach in already and it's heavily rumoured that another is already agreed andxwill join in the next few weeks.

[ozzjim]

Nikola Vlasic to Wetspam, according to the gRauniad

Good signing. They look a very decent team again. Moyes has really proved a point there.

[Monty]

It feels from Dean's interviews and generally seeming pleased with a draw at home to Brentford we are just aiming to stay in the League

We still haven't brought in a replacement for JT or ROK. and haven't even spent all of the Jack Grealish money

Very worrying

God love Fred, so useful for providing perspective when you think you're being unnecessarily miseryarse-ish.

[Flin5tone]

Yes there was an injury crisis but he could have put Watkins on sooner. We have a bloody international break now what harm would half hour have done? Looked much more likely to score when he was on the pitch and Hourihane should have been used rather than nakamba. It's almost like we were happy to get a point. Infuriating

We need a couple of new faces in before deadline day or we will really struggle. Got very lucky against a terrible Newcastle team,ripped apart by Watford and taken a draw at home to Brentford. And they reckon we're 18 months off champions league?

[Sexual Ealing]

Resign!

[Dante Lavelli]

Here's a write-up from Hampshire Love last year on the system I'm guessing Smith wants to implement:

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/strengths-weaknesses-hasenhuttl-system-southampton-4203343.amp

Aside from anything, what a reminder as to how shite our own local media coverage really is.

This deserves a bump.  Interesting article and the system suits some players, plus it allows us to select both Watkins and Ings.  I wonder how integral Holberg was to the system as that is arguably the player we do not have.