Aston Villa

[Simster]

We shall see, I am very rarely wrong in my views,.

Please add me to the extremely long list of NSC regulars chuckling at this. You are one of the poorest judges of footballers I think I know of.

 

[GT49er]

I would go with the bookies and make them automatic promotion favourites along with Newcastle and the rest including us are playing for the play off place.

There's a lot more people in Birmingham than there are in Brighton. If they're all lumping a tenner on their local team, even if only out of loyalty, the odds are the bookies will shorten the odds It's about money, and minimising possible losses - that's all the bookies are interested in.

 

[GT49er]

Had we followed my advice re a left back last season we would be in the Premier now. We dropped too many points through not getting a left back on an emergency loan.

Yes, two players for each position is the norm -which our recruitment team had seen to, very adroitly. Of course, any damn fool should have known early doors that two left backs wasn't enough, and we should have had three ..........

 

[Easy 10]

Yes, two players for each position is the norm -which our recruitment team had seen to, very adroitly. Of course, any damn fool should have known early doors that two left backs wasn't enough, and we should have had three ..........

Love that word. It should be used more often.

 

[BensGrandad]

Yes, two players for each position is the norm -which our recruitment team had seen to, very adroitly. Of course, any damn fool should have known early doors that two left backs wasn't enough, and we should have had three ..........

We didnt have 2 we had 1 Bong, Rosenior and Calderon were utility back four players Chicksen was deemed not good enough early days. This is going over old ground but the mistake was not loaning a specialist left back when Bong got injured knowing he was going to be out for 3 months ish. J Lloyd Samuel was only asking what he was doing and was he still capable. I would have gone for a Premier youngster or somebody like Essou Akotou to do a job rather than as we did rely on Calderon playing out of position but as I say that is all done and gone.

 

[mona]

There's a lot more people in Birmingham than there are in Brighton. If they're all lumping a tenner on their local team, even if only out of loyalty, the odds are the bookies will shorten the odds It's about money, and minimising possible losses - that's all the bookies are interested in.

But Brummies are the most negative and miserable fans in the country. The old Eastern terrace at the Goldstone was vibrant and excitable compared to much of Villa Park.

 

[GT49er]

We didnt have 2 we had 1 Bong, Rosenior and Calderon were utility back four players Chicksen was deemed not good enough early days. This is going over old ground but the mistake was not loaning a specialist left back when Bong got injured knowing he was going to be out for 3 months ish. J Lloyd Samuel was only asking what he was doing and was he still capable. I would have gone for a Premier youngster or somebody like Essou Akotou to do a job rather than as we did rely on Calderon playing out of position but as I say that is all done and gone.

So, a player with wide experience at left back in the PL, who played in two thirds of our matches last season, only once finishing on the losing side (when coming on as a second half substitute at Cardiff) isn't a proper LB?
OK, have it your own way. You'll keep repeating yourself until the cows come home, and even the arrival of whole herds of them won't stop you .....................................

 

[severnside gull]

Villa trying to beat Norwich to McCormack.
Think he'd have more chance of getting to the premier league with the canaries but time will tell

 

[BensGrandad]

I am very impressed with the signings they have made 3 good proven signings right through the base of the team Elphick. Jerdinak, McCormack from a solid spine of the team you can expand it with players to provide the challenge for the title. As I have said previously my tip for 3rd and that is one of the teams who we have to dislodge to gain automatic.

With our CB problem why didnt we go after Elphick?

 

[Biscuit Barrel]

I am very impressed with the signings they have made 3 good proven signings right through the base of the team Elphick. Jerdinak, McCormack from a solid spine of the team you can expand it with players to provide the challenge for the title. As I have said previously my tip for 3rd and that is one of the teams who we have to dislodge to gain automatic.

With our CB problem why didnt we go after Elphick?

£40K per week, is probably why.

 

[BensGrandad]

£40K per week, is probably why.

Was that known before Villa offered it and if so it is £2m per year to chase the golden dream. We wont get the players to get us there paying peanuts anymore.

 

[highflyer]

Was that known before Villa offered it and if so it is £2m per year to chase the golden dream. We wont get the players to get us there paying peanuts anymore.

We certainly don't pay peanuts, but equally we don't (I hope) try and compete with the stupid money being thrown around that we all know is destroying the game. I for one am very glad that we don't do that.

There are different ways of winning, apart from just throwing money at a problem. Trying to go the obvious route of buying 'proven' players puts us in direct competition with teams that have far more resources than us. We cannot win if we choose to fight on that battleground. Instead we need to look at how we can play a slightly different game and best use whatever advantages we have.

Obviously you do need to invest, as we have done. One advantage we have is a large catchment area for the club, so developing our training facilities and our networks to hoover up and develop local talent is definitely a good long term strategy, but will take time to pay dividends.

In the shorter term I think we are focussing on being clever about recruitment and not just going for the obvious targets that everyone else will be chasing, and taking a few risks. I think we have done that pretty well, for instance in the cases of Kayal, Goldson, Knockhaert and Skalak amongst others. The fact that we have a very highly respected manager, good support, look like a well run club that is going places and that this is a nice area to live (especially for players with young families) can all be used to attract the right kind of player - for whom money is not everything.

Perhaps most importantly we are emphasising the importance of the team over the individual. This means buying the right type of player, and not just the big names, the strategy of 'strength in depth' rather than relying on one or two stars and, crucially, sticking to a pay structure so we don't create the kind of harmful dynamics that I am sure has destroyed team morale in more than one club.

So far this all seems to be working rather well don't you think?

I am happy that we don't seem to want to go and start offering bigger and bigger wages to tempt the kind of names that many on here think will 'guarantee' success.

 

[Postman Pat]

Was that known before Villa offered it and if so it is £2m per year to chase the golden dream. We wont get the players to get us there paying peanuts anymore.

True, but what do you think would happen if we paid one player £40k a week? Do you think Stockdale, Dunk, Kayal, Stephens, Hemed etc.. would be OK with that?

 

[CHAPPERS]

His signing on fee was not insignificant either.

 

[Return of the Makh]

I think they will do well, should get play offs. The spine of the team is now decent with Ephick, Jedinak, Ayew, McCormack and Gestede.

 

[worthingseagull123]

I am very impressed with the signings they have made 3 good proven signings right through the base of the team Elphick. Jerdinak, McCormack from a solid spine of the team you can expand it with players to provide the challenge for the title. As I have said previously my tip for 3rd and that is one of the teams who we have to dislodge to gain automatic.

With our CB problem why didnt we go after Elphick?

Something tells me Norwich will be the biggest threat of the relegated teams

But I can easily see the 3 to have come down to be the three going back up

 

[crabface]

I expected villa to drop like a stone, but they have done some good business and have started well.

Simple answer is dont listen to my relegation tips.

 

[SAC]

I expected villa to drop like a stone, but they have done some good business and have started well.

Simple answer is dont listen to my relegation tips.

Nor me, I picked Leicester for relegation last season. Although I wasn't alone.

 

[SAC]

True, but what do you think would happen if we paid one player £40k a week? Do you think Stockdale, Dunk, Kayal, Stephens, Hemed etc.. would be OK with that?

Players are used to there being a disparity in earnings amongst team mates but if it ends in promotion then they all benefit.

 

[Postman Pat]

Players are used to there being a disparity in earnings amongst team mates but if it ends in promotion then they all benefit.

Not over 3 times what everyone else is earning!!