The Next Step Up.

[Baldy]

Neither will be going anywhere. Luiz just signed a deal and said how happy he is, Martinez pretty much said the same. It's not like it was, the players can see where this is going, and it's getting better.

And it is re-assuring to know that any future prospect signing will recognise that Villa are moving in the right direction, that they will have to graft hard and earn their wage packet.

Hopefully, the days of easy money, in a comfort zone with no expectation are well and truly behind us.

[London Villan]

Things are seemingly falling into place - it feels like the time under SGT just before we found out that England had nicked him, or the second season of MON when things started to click.

With all this optimism we all know how tonight will pan out!

[Sexual Ealing]

Yes, the optimism is shitting me up. We've seen this movie so many times before. "We've done all the hard work. Now all we need to do is beat a couple of relegation strugglers and we'll be right up there." Hmmn. Let's see.

[Mister E]

Yes, the optimism is shitting me up. We've seen this movie so many times before. "We've done all the hard work. Now all we need to do is beat a couple of relegation strugglers and we'll be right up there." Hmmn. Let's see.

how are your shits now? - we avoided 2 banana skins and are set fair.  Watching the Villa had become less stressful and we go into the barcode game with optimism.

[Sexual Ealing]

Yes, this is all new. We'd definitely have messed up one of those games in the past.

[SoccerHQ]

It's important we get into europa sooner or later to keep our big hitting players sweet.

Of course we can wait but let's not make out finishing 6th is some Leicester type 500/1 shot miracle. With 8 games left we have more than a decent chance of doing it now.

Usually in football you have to seize the initiative rather than wait for future seasons. I was disappointed in 20/21 in what a good position we were in with 15 games to go and then the long winless run started and we finished 11th.

Grealish left and 18 months later we were 17th and losing to Fulham 3-0 under a terrible manager so while we're in a much better place now we need to be qualifying for europe sooner or later if we want to be the club again we have been in the past.

[tomd2103]

It's important we get into europa sooner or later to keep our big hitting players sweet.

Of course we can wait but let's not make out finishing 6th is some Leicester type 500/1 shot miracle. With 8 games left we have more than a decent chance of doing it now.

Usually in football you have to seize the initiative rather than wait for future seasons. I was disappointed in 20/21 in what a good position we were in with 15 games to go and then the long winless run started and we finished 11th.

Grealish left and 18 months later we were 17th and losing to Fulham 3-0 under a terrible manager so while we're in a much better place now we need to be qualifying for europe sooner or later if we want to be the club again we have been in the past.

Agree that there is an opportunity this season that might not present itself too often, given the relatively poor seasons two of the so-called "big six" are having. 

[Smithy]

Of the players currently in the building, there are very few players I would put in the bracket of "need to get rid of this summer" (not including senior players on loan, obv), but I'd be happy to see a few of them become squad players.  These players have shown they are good enough to compete in the top third of the league, but now it's about supplementing them with players that can get us a top four place.  If we do manage to hold on to a European place, that demand goes from three or four important first-team reader players, to perhaps five or six to ensure we have a squad capable of playing twice a week for large chunks of the season.

Newcastle have shown how to compete for a top four place with just three or four excellent signings (but they haven't had a European campaign to worry about while doing it).

We obviously need a top class forward and winger who can slot straight into the starting eleven as a minimum, and I'd hope our ability to recruit those positions would be greatly improved if we had a European campaign to offer.

I'm genuinely excited to see how the summer develops, because whatever happens, we're going to see players being replaced who have actually performed pretty well since Emery came in, and this "improving from a position of strength" is what all the best teams do, even if it seems to be a bit alien to us right now.

[Beard82]

I think what Smithy says is right - virtually all the players have shown they can do a job at this level - and I don't see a need to move any of them on, unless Unai see differently, or we get offers for players on high wages - like Bailey, Dinge, Dendonker and Phil

For me, the focus needs to be on at least 1 upgrade on Bailey, and maybe Beundia.  Really they needs to be getting 10 -15 goal involvements a season at least, and I am not convinced they ever will consistently.

I think then we need another right-back, center back, and midfielder that are different then what we have, but at least as good (e.g. a ball playing center back, a more defensively solid right back). 

We could also do with cover for watkins, but that could be archer and duran.   If we get European football (a very big if I think), it would be great to get the likes of A Ramsey, Tim and KKH involved too

[Smithy]

It's important we get into europa sooner or later to keep our big hitting players sweet.

Of course we can wait but let's not make out finishing 6th is some Leicester type 500/1 shot miracle. With 8 games left we have more than a decent chance of doing it now.

Usually in football you have to seize the initiative rather than wait for future seasons. I was disappointed in 20/21 in what a good position we were in with 15 games to go and then the long winless run started and we finished 11th.

Grealish left and 18 months later we were 17th and losing to Fulham 3-0 under a terrible manager so while we're in a much better place now we need to be qualifying for europe sooner or later if we want to be the club again we have been in the past.

Agree that there is an opportunity this season that might not present itself too often, given the relatively poor seasons two of the so-called "big six" are having. 

That's true, but there are two teams in Brighton and Brentford who are doing WAY better than expected this year. Last year the surprise packages were West Ham and Wolves (both of whom would have been ahead of us on 51 and 49 points respectively at this point in the season).  Chelsea and Liverpool will definitely improve next season, brentford and Brighton might go the way of West Ham and Wolves this season.  Someone might replace them.  I tend to look at what it takes to qualify for Europe each season, rather that which team is actually qualifying.

The final European place in the last few seasons has ween won with 58, 65, 59, and 57 points.  The 65 points year would probably see us miss out, but I think we're well capable of reaching 59, which would see us qualify in three of the last four years.

But you are right, this season represents a huge opportunity to jump ahead a full year in our 'Emery plan', and given where we are in the season, it would be devastating if we failed to take it.

[not3bad]

If we do make Europe then I don't think we'll be letting many players go simply because we need the numbers. So the new signings must serve to improve on what we already have. Also, I don't want us to crash out of the domestic cups so early next season.

[Meanwood Villa]

Going back to Smithy's post earlier. I was surprised to see West Ham and Wolves were doing better than us at this stage last season. In fact after 30 games they were on 48 and 46 points, they did both win their 31st match to get to the points totals from Smithy's post but both shit the bed badly after that. 5 points from 7 for West Ham and 2 from 7 for Wolves. We know ourselves how bad runs can carry over into new seasons. Would be very deflating to have a collapse like that, notwithstanding the remarkable turnaround we have already enjoyed.

[ChicagoLion]

Going back to Smithy's post earlier. I was surprised to see West Ham and Wolves were doing better than us at this stage last season. In fact after 30 games they were on 48 and 46 points, they did both win their 31st match to get to the points totals from Smithy's post but both shit the bed badly after that. 5 points from 7 for West Ham and 2 from 7 for Wolves. We know ourselves how bad runs can carry over into new seasons. Would be very deflating to have a collapse like that, notwithstanding the remarkable turnaround we have already enjoyed.

I guess this is when the number of games began to catch up with them. Very few teams are able to sustain a campaign in multiple competitions and if they do it usually has negative consequences for the following season.

[Drummond]

The next step up is having enough players to maintain a consistent performance level. I suspect we will see a few new arrivals that will enable that.

Our form under this manager is plenty good enough this season isn't it? The belief is there, the form is there. We've players to come back in and young players, like Aaron Ramsey who would be great for extended cup runs.

[nigel]

Going back to Smithy's post earlier. I was surprised to see West Ham and Wolves were doing better than us at this stage last season. In fact after 30 games they were on 48 and 46 points, they did both win their 31st match to get to the points totals from Smithy's post but both shit the bed badly after that. 5 points from 7 for West Ham and 2 from 7 for Wolves. We know ourselves how bad runs can carry over into new seasons. Would be very deflating to have a collapse like that, notwithstanding the remarkable turnaround we have already enjoyed.

I guess this is when the number of games began to catch up with them. Very few teams are able to sustain a campaign in multiple competitions and if they do it usually has negative consequences for the following season.

Agree.
This is where having strength in depth is so important.
I don’t think those two did, although they both had a good first 12 or 13, once past those they were very average

Yes, I want us to qualify for Europe, but not so much if it proves detrimental to our domestic form
I would love us to win the FA cup, and treat the League Cup with respect and give it a go, too..