Ramón Rodríguez Verdejo (AKA Monchi)

[Clive W]

I would imagine the problem is we have to let players move before we can bring in replacements for FFP.

Noone is it yet but I would imagine we are being ambitious with the players we want - and probably have some insurance deals that we will do if we cant get our main targets. 

For example, Gallagher was our first choice midfielder, Onanna our second etc.  But ultimately, Im sure we would have rather have not sold Dougie.  Likewise with Diaby.  I think hes trying to opperate with both hands tied behind his back most of the time.

Agreed

According to Percy/Law in the DT we couldn’t sign Malen until the Philogene transfer had definitely gone through because of FFP (or whatever it’s called now)

Obviously automatic qualification for the next phase of the CL plus the Duran money has changed things

But that’s only happened in the last few days

[Toronto Villa]

This isn’t me defending Monchi but isn’t blaming him without including Emery a bit like blaming Heck without blaming Nas and Wes? They are all in this together as they make decisions. And Monchi was someone Emery wanted. It’s impossible to judge him properly given the FFP and PSR rules we’ve had to contend with. But no doubt things aren’t exactly looking great. But as it relates to the defence, the disaster of injuries we’ve had aside, that falls all on Emery and his staff. It’s dreadful right now.

[danno]

The centre back debacle is a real fuck-up. It’s not crazy to say it’s cost us 5 points.

No, but I don’t think a centre back would have gotten us a win today. So it’s possibly cost us three points. Two against West Ham and a point today.

It depends on who we get in I suppose. It’s better to suffer today than sign someone last week who isn’t quite right on a four year deal.

I don’t understand the right back situation really. We’ve signed two players for the future when we don’t ever seem 100% convinced by Cash. I thought that might have been a priority.

The start of the season was Onana and Tielemans in midfield. I’m hoping that Onana will improve playing next to Kamara. But am not sure where that leaves Tielemans if we play Rogers centrally.

Signing Rashford, I don’t see where he fits. So am wondering if we might be trying something different in the next few weeks.

[PaulWinch again]

It’s not just him, my point on the centre-back fuck up is aimed at all involved. Like I said, it’s quite conceivable it’s cost us 5 points.

[Clampy]

I didn't say 'don't be silly', I just said calm down. Let's just see how things pan out.

That's your usual post in situations like this. Argue to the contrary if you disagree.

Oh, Paulie, me and you and been on this forum a lot longer than most so I'm a little disappointed really. There are a lot worse to vent your anger at.

[Villan82]

This isn’t me defending Monchi but isn’t blaming him without including Emery a bit like blaming Heck without blaming Nas and Wes? They are all in this together as they make decisions. And Monchi was someone Emery wanted. It’s impossible to judge him properly given the FFP and PSR rules we’ve had to contend with. But no doubt things aren’t exactly looking great. But as it relates to the defence, the disaster of injuries we’ve had aside, that falls all on Emery and his staff. It’s dreadful right now.

From the day Emery walked in until last summer we were a machine. He had the players playing so well, in roles that suited them. We just fired on all cylinders. We scored so many early goals and just controlled game after game. The subs were perfect, the mentality was right. Bailey as an impact sub sometimes just picked off tired defences. It was a joy to behold We were a top four team, undeniably and came close to a trophy too.

We all can sense it. That is no longer the case. and the table also shows a decline. What's changed? Well we have traded out a lot of players and bought in a lot of players and the quality has declined, by a fair bit. None of it looks half as convincing as it did those glorious 18 months. Where do we point the finger? Has to be Monchi.

[jon collett]

This isn’t me defending Monchi but isn’t blaming him without including Emery a bit like blaming Heck without blaming Nas and Wes? They are all in this together as they make decisions. And Monchi was someone Emery wanted. It’s impossible to judge him properly given the FFP and PSR rules we’ve had to contend with. But no doubt things aren’t exactly looking great. But as it relates to the defence, the disaster of injuries we’ve had aside, that falls all on Emery and his staff. It’s dreadful right now.

From the day Emery walked in until last summer we were a machine. He had the players playing so well, in roles that suited them. We just fired on all cylinders. We scored so many early goals and just controlled game after game. The subs were perfect, the mentality was right. Bailey as an impact sub sometimes just picked off tired defences. It was a joy to behold We were a top four team, undeniably and came close to a trophy too.

We all can sense it. That is no longer the case. and the table also shows a decline. What's changed? Well we have traded out a lot of players and bought in a lot of players and the quality has declined, by a fair bit. None of it looks half as convincing as it did those glorious 18 months. Where do we point the finger? Has to be Monchi.

Most sensible and honest post on here tonight!

[Toronto Villa]

So Monchi did all this alone?

[Tuscans]

This isn’t me defending Monchi but isn’t blaming him without including Emery a bit like blaming Heck without blaming Nas and Wes? They are all in this together as they make decisions. And Monchi was someone Emery wanted. It’s impossible to judge him properly given the FFP and PSR rules we’ve had to contend with. But no doubt things aren’t exactly looking great. But as it relates to the defence, the disaster of injuries we’ve had aside, that falls all on Emery and his staff. It’s dreadful right now.

From the day Emery walked in until last summer we were a machine. He had the players playing so well, in roles that suited them. We just fired on all cylinders. We scored so many early goals and just controlled game after game. The subs were perfect, the mentality was right. Bailey as an impact sub sometimes just picked off tired defences. It was a joy to behold We were a top four team, undeniably and came close to a trophy too.

We all can sense it. That is no longer the case. and the table also shows a decline. What's changed? Well we have traded out a lot of players and bought in a lot of players and the quality has declined, by a fair bit. None of it looks half as convincing as it did those glorious 18 months. Where do we point the finger? Has to be Monchi.

We also weren't playing in Europes elite competition at that time. It's the nature of the beast a decline was inevitable that only the leading clubs can manage with the squad quality. But I say decline, we're 4pts of 4th and 5th place in January. We sound like fucking whining Arsenal fans right now.

[Demitri_C]

This isnt how this works. Ive explained my reasons why i think we are in a mess, you have to counter argue my points or explain why you think we are in a mess - only if you want to engage in a friendly debate of course 😁

It is how it works. Every club is in a mess. It's all relative.

Arsenal fans think they're in a mess because they think they should have won a title by now. Man City fans think they're in a mess because they only scraped through in the Champions League and won't make it however many title wins in whatever number of years. Bury fans think they're in a mess because they were liquidated and had to start again five divisions below where they were before.

A few years ago our mess was almost certain relegation. A few years before that it was imminent administration. Today our mess is being one of the eighth best teams in Europe, a lacklustre defeat to an inferior team and a (at time of writing) slightly cack-handed transfer window.

None of that makes a defeat to Wolves today fine, but if you think our current situation is a disgrace or an embarrassment or whatever dopey bit of hyperbole you want to employ, then there is literally no level of football Villa can get to that is ever going to satisfy you.

Have you seen me use the word disgrace or embarrassment in the above post? The only time i said tonight was losing to wolves was embarrassing and putting in such awful performance.  They lost the last 5 and have been woeful most of the season.

Your example of arsenal and city are completely  different  to us. Arsenal for example are sitting 2nd and have squad depth. City hit poor form but didnt sign anyone but yet turned it around.

None of them sides have let 3 players go and not replaced any of them. Or played their dm at cb knwoing they have cbs injured for 7 days or more. Its a mess and i still stand by that.

The next few days will be interesting  because we simply cannot go on on like this. We need at least one center  back to come in.

[Tuscans]

This isnt how this works. Ive explained my reasons why i think we are in a mess, you have to counter argue my points or explain why you think we are in a mess - only if you want to engage in a friendly debate of course 😁

It is how it works. Every club is in a mess. It's all relative.

Arsenal fans think they're in a mess because they think they should have won a title by now. Man City fans think they're in a mess because they only scraped through in the Champions League and won't make it however many title wins in whatever number of years. Bury fans think they're in a mess because they were liquidated and had to start again five divisions below where they were before.

A few years ago our mess was almost certain relegation. A few years before that it was imminent administration. Today our mess is being one of the eighth best teams in Europe, a lacklustre defeat to an inferior team and a (at time of writing) slightly cack-handed transfer window.

None of that makes a defeat to Wolves today fine, but if you think our current situation is a disgrace or an embarrassment or whatever dopey bit of hyperbole you want to employ, then there is literally no level of football Villa can get to that is ever going to satisfy you.

Have you seen me use the word disgrace or embarrassment in the above post? The only time i said tonight was losing to wolves was embarrassing and putting in such awful performance.  They lost the last 5 and have been woeful most of the season.

Your example of arsenal and city are completely  different  to us. Arsenal for example are sitting 2nd and have squad depth. City hit poor form but didnt sign anyone but yet turned it around.

None of them sides have let 3 players go and not replaced any of them. Or played their dm at cb knwoing they have cbs injured for 7 days or more. Its a mess and i still stand by that.

The next few days will be interesting  because we simply cannot go on on like this. We need at least one center  back to come in.

Are you Tai from AFTV? You know about Bade agreeing terms then having a change of mind? Disasi agreeing terms and Chelsea playing hardball? You seem to complain about this need of needing a centre back, right now, should of been last week, should of foreseen the injuries, should of done this and done that. How about we don't rush into signing the wrong player because if we do you'll complain they didn't take their time and that player isn't good enough because all you do is that, complain about everything.

Spurs have been without fit centre backs for months and it's only tonight they sign one....it's not as easy as you think and also you mention you would sack Monchi in the summer. Emery has wanted these players, you know that right?

[Demitri_C]

This isnt how this works. Ive explained my reasons why i think we are in a mess, you have to counter argue my points or explain why you think we are in a mess - only if you want to engage in a friendly debate of course 😁

It is how it works. Every club is in a mess. It's all relative.

Arsenal fans think they're in a mess because they think they should have won a title by now. Man City fans think they're in a mess because they only scraped through in the Champions League and won't make it however many title wins in whatever number of years. Bury fans think they're in a mess because they were liquidated and had to start again five divisions below where they were before.

A few years ago our mess was almost certain relegation. A few years before that it was imminent administration. Today our mess is being one of the eighth best teams in Europe, a lacklustre defeat to an inferior team and a (at time of writing) slightly cack-handed transfer window.

None of that makes a defeat to Wolves today fine, but if you think our current situation is a disgrace or an embarrassment or whatever dopey bit of hyperbole you want to employ, then there is literally no level of football Villa can get to that is ever going to satisfy you.

Have you seen me use the word disgrace or embarrassment in the above post? The only time i said tonight was losing to wolves was embarrassing and putting in such awful performance.  They lost the last 5 and have been woeful most of the season.

Your example of arsenal and city are completely  different  to us. Arsenal for example are sitting 2nd and have squad depth. City hit poor form but didnt sign anyone but yet turned it around.

None of them sides have let 3 players go and not replaced any of them. Or played their dm at cb knwoing they have cbs injured for 7 days or more. Its a mess and i still stand by that.

The next few days will be interesting  because we simply cannot go on on like this. We need at least one center  back to come in.

Are you Tai from AFTV? You know about Bade agreeing terms then having a change of mind? Disasi agreeing terms and Chelsea playing hardball? You seem to complain about this need of needing a centre back, right now, should of been last week, should of foreseen the injuries, should of done this and done that. How about we don't rush into signing the wrong player because if we do you'll complain they didn't take their time and that player isn't good enough because all you do is that, complain about everything.

Spurs have been without fit centre backs for months and it's only tonight they sign one....it's not as easy as you think and also you mention you would sack Monchi in the summer. Emery has wanted these players, you know that right?

My argument  though is - dont let carlos leave until you have your replacement in. Its just mental  to do that. We gambled with mings too. Hw has just come back from a big injury. Unlikely he can play week in and out. I do agree with your point  about not rushing but the problem is we now have ti rush as we dont have much time left in the window.

As for spurs look where they are in the table to see the mistakes  they are making! We dont wantvto be like them

[Dave]

As for spurs look where they are in the table to see the mistakes  they are making! We dont wantvto be like them

You've spent a large part of the last twelve months bemoaning the fact that we are not More Like Them.

[Tuscans]

This isnt how this works. Ive explained my reasons why i think we are in a mess, you have to counter argue my points or explain why you think we are in a mess - only if you want to engage in a friendly debate of course 😁

It is how it works. Every club is in a mess. It's all relative.

Arsenal fans think they're in a mess because they think they should have won a title by now. Man City fans think they're in a mess because they only scraped through in the Champions League and won't make it however many title wins in whatever number of years. Bury fans think they're in a mess because they were liquidated and had to start again five divisions below where they were before.

A few years ago our mess was almost certain relegation. A few years before that it was imminent administration. Today our mess is being one of the eighth best teams in Europe, a lacklustre defeat to an inferior team and a (at time of writing) slightly cack-handed transfer window.

None of that makes a defeat to Wolves today fine, but if you think our current situation is a disgrace or an embarrassment or whatever dopey bit of hyperbole you want to employ, then there is literally no level of football Villa can get to that is ever going to satisfy you.

Have you seen me use the word disgrace or embarrassment in the above post? The only time i said tonight was losing to wolves was embarrassing and putting in such awful performance.  They lost the last 5 and have been woeful most of the season.

Your example of arsenal and city are completely  different  to us. Arsenal for example are sitting 2nd and have squad depth. City hit poor form but didnt sign anyone but yet turned it around.

None of them sides have let 3 players go and not replaced any of them. Or played their dm at cb knwoing they have cbs injured for 7 days or more. Its a mess and i still stand by that.

The next few days will be interesting  because we simply cannot go on on like this. We need at least one center  back to come in.

Are you Tai from AFTV? You know about Bade agreeing terms then having a change of mind? Disasi agreeing terms and Chelsea playing hardball? You seem to complain about this need of needing a centre back, right now, should of been last week, should of foreseen the injuries, should of done this and done that. How about we don't rush into signing the wrong player because if we do you'll complain they didn't take their time and that player isn't good enough because all you do is that, complain about everything.

Spurs have been without fit centre backs for months and it's only tonight they sign one....it's not as easy as you think and also you mention you would sack Monchi in the summer. Emery has wanted these players, you know that right?

My argument  though is - dont let carlos leave until you have your replacement in. Its just mental  to do that. We gambled with mings too. Hw has just come back from a big injury. Unlikely he can play week in and out. I do agree with your point  about not rushing but the problem is we now have ti rush as we dont have much time left in the window.

As for spurs look where they are in the table to see the mistakes  they are making! We dont wantvto be like them

And who's at Spurs, Lange. Is Monchi an improvement on Lange for you? And remember for every Bailey there's a Werner.

[Tuscans]

This isnt how this works. Ive explained my reasons why i think we are in a mess, you have to counter argue my points or explain why you think we are in a mess - only if you want to engage in a friendly debate of course 😁

It is how it works. Every club is in a mess. It's all relative.

Arsenal fans think they're in a mess because they think they should have won a title by now. Man City fans think they're in a mess because they only scraped through in the Champions League and won't make it however many title wins in whatever number of years. Bury fans think they're in a mess because they were liquidated and had to start again five divisions below where they were before.

A few years ago our mess was almost certain relegation. A few years before that it was imminent administration. Today our mess is being one of the eighth best teams in Europe, a lacklustre defeat to an inferior team and a (at time of writing) slightly cack-handed transfer window.

None of that makes a defeat to Wolves today fine, but if you think our current situation is a disgrace or an embarrassment or whatever dopey bit of hyperbole you want to employ, then there is literally no level of football Villa can get to that is ever going to satisfy you.

Have you seen me use the word disgrace or embarrassment in the above post? The only time i said tonight was losing to wolves was embarrassing and putting in such awful performance.  They lost the last 5 and have been woeful most of the season.

Your example of arsenal and city are completely  different  to us. Arsenal for example are sitting 2nd and have squad depth. City hit poor form but didnt sign anyone but yet turned it around.

None of them sides have let 3 players go and not replaced any of them. Or played their dm at cb knwoing they have cbs injured for 7 days or more. Its a mess and i still stand by that.

The next few days will be interesting  because we simply cannot go on on like this. We need at least one center  back to come in.

Are you Tai from AFTV? You know about Bade agreeing terms then having a change of mind? Disasi agreeing terms and Chelsea playing hardball? You seem to complain about this need of needing a centre back, right now, should of been last week, should of foreseen the injuries, should of done this and done that. How about we don't rush into signing the wrong player because if we do you'll complain they didn't take their time and that player isn't good enough because all you do is that, complain about everything.

Spurs have been without fit centre backs for months and it's only tonight they sign one....it's not as easy as you think and also you mention you would sack Monchi in the summer. Emery has wanted these players, you know that right?

My argument  though is - dont let carlos leave until you have your replacement in. Its just mental  to do that.

He was desperate to go and I doubt Fenerbahce were going to wait around.