Gerrard In or Out?

[Drummond]

I'll be excited again at the beginning of August, but that's just because it'll be the season starting again. Same as on fixture release day. Right now, well there's no evidence to get me excited.

Play well, score some goals (no goals from open play in over 360 minutes of football) and do ok til the end of the season and I may change my view.

With the squad we have we should be higher than we are. I was prepared to give leeway earlier in the season when you know who did you know what, and we had a pile of injured unfit players. But now, well we should be doing better.

My team for the weekend would be.....


                 Martinez

Cash     Konsa     Mings    Chrisene
      Iroegbunam     Nakamba 
Buendia                       Ramsey
                  Coutinho
                  Ings

[paul_e]

I'll be excited again at the beginning of August, but that's just because it'll be the season starting again. Same as on fixture release day. Right now, well there's no evidence to get me excited.

Play well, score some goals (no goals from open play in over 360 minutes of football) and do ok til the end of the season and I may change my view.

With the squad we have we should be higher than we are. I was prepared to give leeway earlier in the season when you know who did you know what, and we had a pile of injured unfit players. But now, well we should be doing better.

My team for the weekend would be.....


                 Martinez

Cash     Konsa     Mings    Chrisene
      Iroegbunam     Nakamba 
Buendia                       Ramsey
                  Coutinho
                  Ings

I know people don't like stats like xG on here but from the last 4 games if you use the stats here - https://understat.com/team/Aston_Villa/2021 - it suggests that, on average, we should've scored 3.5 goals from the chances we've created in the last 4 games. That 'feels' correct to me because we've missed some chances I'd have expected us to take.

[Clampy]

I don't find all that expected goals malarkey very important.

[Drummond]

I don't find all that expected goals malarkey very important.

That's why you're not a football manager.

[Drummond]

I'll be excited again at the beginning of August, but that's just because it'll be the season starting again. Same as on fixture release day. Right now, well there's no evidence to get me excited.

Play well, score some goals (no goals from open play in over 360 minutes of football) and do ok til the end of the season and I may change my view.

With the squad we have we should be higher than we are. I was prepared to give leeway earlier in the season when you know who did you know what, and we had a pile of injured unfit players. But now, well we should be doing better.

My team for the weekend would be.....


                 Martinez

Cash     Konsa     Mings    Chrisene
      Iroegbunam     Nakamba 
Buendia                       Ramsey
                  Coutinho
                  Ings

I know people don't like stats like xG on here but from the last 4 games if you use the stats here - https://understat.com/team/Aston_Villa/2021 - it suggests that, on average, we should've scored 3.5 goals from the chances we've created in the last 4 games. That 'feels' correct to me because we've missed some chances I'd have expected us to take.

Oh I know what you mean, but the point is we haven't scored them.

Coutinho's free-kick chip that Ings fluffed would have been a goal of the month contender, etc. The thing is, the chances aren't going in and we're leaking at the other end.

[Brazilian Villain]

I worry about another year where our fantastic owners spend a lorryful of cash for another deflating season.

With Wes involved it's more likely to be truckload of cash.

[gpbarr]

Excited for the season to end - it’s been a car crash. The off season will be interesting to watch - not just in terms who we buy but who we lose. Rumors swirling around Martinez to Juve for example. Big big job this summer

[mrfuse]

I'll be excited again at the beginning of August, but that's just because it'll be the season starting again. Same as on fixture release day. Right now, well there's no evidence to get me excited.

Play well, score some goals (no goals from open play in over 360 minutes of football) and do ok til the end of the season and I may change my view.

With the squad we have we should be higher than we are. I was prepared to give leeway earlier in the season when you know who did you know what, and we had a pile of injured unfit players. But now, well we should be doing better.

My team for the weekend would be.....


                 Martinez

Cash     Konsa     Mings    Chrisene
      Iroegbunam     Nakamba 
Buendia                       Ramsey
                  Coutinho
                  Ings

I thought you wanted to score some goals? Ings cant currently connect with a football never mind put one a massive net he's a few feet away from.

[Ads]

Ings looks well short at the moment with his movement and finishing. Confidence appears shot. Watkins was excellent off the ball against Leicester and will start the weekend.

I'd have Coutinho in that 10 slot and agree Buendia in the midfield behind as he does a lot off the ball too.

[Sexual Ealing]

Ings looks well short at the moment with his movement and finishing. Confidence appears shot. Watkins was excellent off the ball against Leicester and will start the weekend.

I'd have Coutinho in that 10 slot and agree Buendia in the midfield behind as he does a lot off the ball too.

I wasn't there, so happily acknowledge your greater insight, but on my illegal stream Watkins looked like the worst player on the pitch by several miles. Apart from Bailey.

[Ads]

He pressed Leicester on his own. I'm not saying he played well, as he when in possession he doesn't look like scoring, but off it he worked exceptionally hard.

[Tayls_7]

He pressed Leicester on his own. I'm not saying he played well, as he when in possession he doesn't look like scoring, but off it he worked exceptionally hard.

Correct, and one of the few Villa players who looked to have a bit of pace.

[Drummond]

I know what you mean, but I think Ings and Buendia understand each other better. And let's face it, neither of our strikers is scoring.

[eamonn]

He pressed Leicester on his own. I'm not saying he played well, as he when in possession he doesn't look like scoring, but off it he worked exceptionally hard.

Correct, and one of the few Villa players who looked to have a bit of pace.

Wright and Shearer analysed Watkins game on MOTD and approved highly of it and they were the best strikers of the 90s so everyone else's contrary opinion can get tae fuuu...

[SoccerHQ]

I'll be excited again at the beginning of August, but that's just because it'll be the season starting again. Same as on fixture release day. Right now, well there's no evidence to get me excited.

Play well, score some goals (no goals from open play in over 360 minutes of football) and do ok til the end of the season and I may change my view.

With the squad we have we should be higher than we are. I was prepared to give leeway earlier in the season when you know who did you know what, and we had a pile of injured unfit players. But now, well we should be doing better.

My team for the weekend would be.....


                 Martinez

Cash     Konsa     Mings    Chrisene
      Iroegbunam     Nakamba 
Buendia                       Ramsey
                  Coutinho
                  Ings

I know people don't like stats like xG on here but from the last 4 games if you use the stats here - https://understat.com/team/Aston_Villa/2021 - it suggests that, on average, we should've scored 3.5 goals from the chances we've created in the last 4 games. That 'feels' correct to me because we've missed some chances I'd have expected us to take.

We barely created anything that would get xG excited at Leicester. Bailey shooting well over would've probably just about registered but not Watkins shooting from tight angles or Buendia curling one from edge of box just wide late on.

Certainly missed sitters from Ings and Watkins though in the two previous before that which hints at what needs to be improved even if the all conquering DM arrives.