Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours/Champions League Thread 2024/25

LeBash · 18-10-2020 10:18pm

I just can't believe Iheanacho didn't score against us.

Panrich · 18-10-2020 10:55pm

Well this is a pleasant turn of events after the last 10 years. We are looking much more than a flash in the pan as well. Barkley has added a lot to our midfield, and we look very solid at the back.

Being Villa, I'm waiting for the hammer to fall and half expect Leeds to bring us crashing back down to earth on Friday night.

Neil3030 · 19-10-2020 12:13am

There was a passage in the first half I really enjoyed seeing. Villa picked up the ball deep in their own half. Leicester pressed, but nothing major. Barkley dropped deep to provide an outlet and some assurance on the ball. After a few times working the ball over and back across the pitch, mostly in involving Luiz, Barkley and the two centre halves, they had worked the ball up near the half way line. Then Luiz (I think) spray a diagonal ball from right to left, finding Targett who had made a forward run down his flank.

In other words: THEY HAD A DELIBERATE PLAN TO MOVE THE BALL OUT OF DEFENSE AND INTO ATTACK.

How many years of your Villa supporting life have you spent watching the ball get played back and forth across the back-line, ending up with an aimless punt toward the striker?

Corholio · 19-10-2020 1:06am

Great win in the end, really took the game to Leicester at times when you may have expected the team to sit back. McGinn does a great job in that deeper role, just buzzes about the midfield and was nearly always on hand to start a move to Jack or Barkley.

Have to mention Targett as well, I thought he was excellent defensively tonight, both full backs looked very solid.

sc86 · 19-10-2020 9:09am

At the minute the team looks solid and without a weak link.
Must be 10 years since a villa fan could say that.
Great victory again a good team , clean sheet , and away from villa park.

Trez work rate this season is also worth a mention

pavb2 · 19-10-2020 10:20am

sc86 wrote: »

At the minute the team looks solid and without a weak link.

Trez work rate this season is also worth a mention

Yes he’s a different player seems to be helping out much more in defence and links up really well with Cash.

CSF · 19-10-2020 10:25am

Matty Cash's foul was probably the highlight of the game for me other than the goal.

listermint · 19-10-2020 10:38am

Bit harsh to give mcginn a yellow on his birthday.

matrim · 19-10-2020 10:45am

I though Traore worked well when he came on too. He tracked back and made good use of the ball to keep it in our possession. Hopefully the workrate of Trez pushes him to keep working hard.

JPA · 19-10-2020 11:07am

matrim wrote: »

I though Traore worked well when he came on too. He tracked back and made good use of the ball to keep it in our possession. Hopefully the workrate of Trez pushes him to keep working hard.

Yes, he was sensible in possession, I was half expecting him to attempt a dribble or shot and possibly lose possession.

Esse85 · 19-10-2020 11:19am

matrim wrote: »

I though Traore worked well when he came on too. He tracked back and made good use of the ball to keep it in our possession. Hopefully the workrate of Trez pushes him to keep working hard.

In fairness, I saw that too.

Esse85 · 19-10-2020 5:41pm

How good is this guy? Some day soon he's scoring a worldie like Messi, where he runs from the half way line, beats about 5 of their players and passes it into the net. That backheel to Targett last night was just so good.

https://youtu.be/PyijYWFwjQc

listermint · 19-10-2020 10:01pm

Leeds bulk of possession Tonight but failed to have more than two shots on. Wolves disallowed var and caught a deflection goal later on.

interesting for Friday. But we shouldn't fear leeds too much . Obviously they may jump out of the blocks early. Strong first half

CSF · 20-10-2020 7:07pm

Leeds will be missing Phillips on Friday. Another good chance to take advantage.

They play good football though and will still be a challenge.

Esse85 · 20-10-2020 9:11pm

CSF wrote: »

Leeds will be missing Phillips on Friday. Another good chance to take advantage.

They play good football though and will still be a challenge.

I'd expect us to keep a clean sheet against Leeds.
From their point of view they lack that quality upfront.
I'm sure Grealish will be happy Phillip's is out.

Having beaten the champions and Leicester, on paper you'd expect a villa win.

eagle eye · 20-10-2020 9:56pm

If they keep it up lads you'll be watching the ECL next year.

CSF · 20-10-2020 10:50pm

eagle eye wrote: »

If they keep it up lads you'll be watching the ECL next year.

Unfortunately we've not much depth. Any injuries and we're back to playing the lads who were inches from relegation last season.

We'd need a relatively injury free season to challenge for Europe. Upper midtable could well be achievable if we have a more moderate injury level. If we have it tough with injuries we could be right down there.

Neil3030 · 20-10-2020 10:53pm

Yeah I'm still seeing this as 12 down, 28 to go.

Then lock Jack Grealish in a cave somewhere next summer and strengthen further.

Panrich · 20-10-2020 11:41pm

CSF wrote: »

Leeds will be missing Phillips on Friday. Another good chance to take advantage.

They play good football though and will still be a challenge.

Has Smith taken up voodoo?

Liverpool miss Mané and Allisson.
Leicester miss Soyuncu, Maddison and Vardy
and now Leeds miss Phillips

circadian · 21-10-2020 6:57am

Panrich wrote: »

Has Smith taken up voodoo?

Liverpool miss Mané and Allisson.
Leicester miss Soyuncu, Maddison and Vardy
and now Leeds miss Phillips

Feels like it, very fortunate with injuries on other teams. In saying that, previous seasons we wouldn't Enterprise on this kind of luck and still fall over.

listermint · 21-10-2020 8:48am

Neil3030 wrote: »

Yeah I'm still seeing this as 12 down, 28 to go.

Then lock Jack Grealish in a cave somewhere next summer and strengthen further.

Ye all have hostage syndrome.

Top 4 baby.

JPA · 21-10-2020 8:57am

Neil3030 wrote: »

Yeah I'm still seeing this as 12 down, 28 to go.

Then lock Jack Grealish in a cave somewhere next summer and strengthen further.

We got 17 points in 15/16. :eek:

Brian201888 · 21-10-2020 9:03am

We'll go top as it stands as soon as the Leeds game kicks off, when was the last time we were top of the league?

LeBash · 21-10-2020 10:00am

Brian201888 wrote: »

We'll go top as it stands as soon as the Leeds game kicks off, when was the last time we were top of the league?

Dion Dublin's first season id say and we fell to bits after Christmas.

matrim · 21-10-2020 10:12am

If we can keep relatively injury free until Christmas and then add one or two player we should be in for a good season.

In most positions we have someone on the bench who is fine as a sub or for a game or two but most I wouldn't want playing as first choice longer term.

JPA · 21-10-2020 1:22pm

circadian wrote: »

Feels like it, very fortunate with injuries on other teams. In saying that, previous seasons we wouldn't Enterprise on this kind of luck and still fall over.

We'll get our share, especially this season. But if we could go relatively unscathed until Christmas we might do something special.

The manager will have to be brave though and rotate rather than waiting for injuries IMO.
If we get injuries and then have to start players with no game time, might not go well.

sc86 · 21-10-2020 2:03pm

Conor hourihane must be sick , great start to season for his standards , goal and assit again fulham , then doesnt get a minute in next 2 games

CSF · 21-10-2020 2:24pm

sc86 wrote: »

Conor hourihane must be sick , great start to season for his standards , goal and assit again fulham , then doesnt get a minute in next 2 games

He will be in no position to complain though, given how much better Barkley has been.

Panrich · 21-10-2020 3:03pm

sc86 wrote: »

Conor hourihane must be sick , great start to season for his standards , goal and assit again fulham , then doesnt get a minute in next 2 games

You would feel a bit sorry for Conor but looking at him playing for Ireland reminds me why Smith felt we needed Barkley.

Conor can not take control of a game and impose himself on the opposition. He's a lovely player in possession but he can't run with the ball, he can't get close enough to dispossess opponents and he doesn't seem to anticipate breaks; so often it seems like games can pass him by.

When we are well on top in games, he is more involved and can be a great asset but when we are chasing to get a foothold, he is largely ineffective.

VillaMad · 21-10-2020 3:07pm

25-man Premier League squad confirmed yesterday.

No room for Henri Lansbury as they have chosen to go with 4 keepers with Tom Heaton expected back sometime at the end of November. Wesley is also picked despite him looking unlikely to feature until probably January.

Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton*, Jed Steer*, Emiliano Martinez*, Lovre Kalinic

Defenders: Matty Cash*, Neil Taylor*, Ezri Konsa*, Tyrone Mings*, Matt Targett*, Bjorn Engels, Frederic Guilbert, Ahmed Elmohamady, Kortney Hause*

Midfielders Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Jack Grealish*, Conor Hourihane*, Trezeguet, Marvelous Nakamba, Anwar El Ghazi, Ross Barkley*

Forwards Wesley, Ollie Watkins*, Keinan Davis*, Bertrand Traore

Squad rules are at least 8 home grown players with a maximum of 17 non-home grown players, so Villa have 14 home grown which is more than most in the Premier League.

All under-21 players do not have to register.

listermint · 21-10-2020 3:27pm

Hourihane is Irish though not home grown. I see he's marked as home grown.

Also 4 keepers is mad.

Brian201888 · 21-10-2020 3:35pm

Shame Lansbury couldn't have got a loan somewhere in that case, don't blame him for sticking around for the wage but he's good enough to be playing football in the Championship

Brian201888 · 21-10-2020 3:36pm

listermint wrote: »

Hourihane is Irish though not home grown. I see he's marked as home grown.

Also 4 keepers is mad.

You can count as homegrown if you spent long enough at English clubs as a youngster, same reason Martinez is homegrown

VillaMad · 21-10-2020 3:37pm

Brian201888 wrote: »

You can count as homegrown if you spent long enough at English clubs as a youngster, same reason Martinez is homegrown

Correct, a Home-grown player is someone who is with an English or Welsh club for at least 3 years prior to them turning 21. Hourihane began his career at Sunderland when he joined them at 16 so he easily fulfills the criteria. Nationality doesn't come into it.

AVFC.Stephen · 21-10-2020 4:10pm

On the way to my 27 points before Christmas

matrim · 21-10-2020 4:31pm

VillaMad wrote: »

25-man Premier League squad confirmed yesterday.

No room for Henri Lansbury as they have chosen to go with 4 keepers with Tom Heaton expected back sometime at the end of November. Wesley is also picked despite him looking unlikely to feature until probably January.

Goalkeepers: Tom Heaton*, Jed Steer*, Emiliano Martinez*, Lovre Kalinic

Defenders: Matty Cash*, Neil Taylor*, Ezri Konsa*, Tyrone Mings*, Matt Targett*, Bjorn Engels, Frederic Guilbert, Ahmed Elmohamady, Kortney Hause*

Midfielders Douglas Luiz, John McGinn, Jack Grealish*, Conor Hourihane*, Trezeguet, Marvelous Nakamba, Anwar El Ghazi, Ross Barkley*

Forwards Wesley, Ollie Watkins*, Keinan Davis*, Bertrand Traore

Squad rules are at least 8 home grown players with a maximum of 17 non-home grown players, so Villa have 14 home grown which is more than most in the Premier League.

All under-21 players do not have to register.

Based on that our 1st (2nd) choice teams are something like:

Martinez (Heaton / Steer)

Cash (Guilbert/ Elmo) Konza (Engles) Mings (Hause) Targett (Taylor)

Luiz (Nakamba)

--MiGinn (Hourihane) -- Barkley (Ramsey)

Trez (Traore)

Grealish (El Ghazi)

Watkins (Wesley / Davis)

Esse85 · 21-10-2020 10:15pm

Toney with another two goals this evening.

LeBash · 21-10-2020 10:59pm

Esse85 wrote: »

Toney with another two goals this evening.

Brentford are my second favourite club since seeing them in the Championship. Unbelievably well run club and they've lost almost all their talent and still replace them without missing a step.

We need to be all over their scouting department and they'll probably replace it with something better the following year.

sc86 · 21-10-2020 11:38pm

Why do we need 4 keepers in 25 man squad.
Strange

21-10-2020 11:39pm

LeBash wrote: »

Brentford are my second favourite club since seeing them in the Championship. Unbelievably well run club and they've lost almost all their talent and still replace them without missing a step.

We need to be all over their scouting department and they'll probably replace it with something better the following year.

A remarkable club. Deserve huge credit, pity they fell apart on the run in last season.

Panrich · 21-10-2020 11:57pm

sc86 wrote: »

Why do we need 4 keepers in 25 man squad.
Strange

I can only think that there are real concerns regarding Heaton coming back to full fitness.

CSF · 22-10-2020 12:05am

Covid is likely a factor too. Wouldn’t take too much at the moment for us to need Kalinic on the bench.

I think Smith would hate the idea of having to play him though.

OneColdHand · 22-10-2020 1:35am

Other issue is goalkeeper is a specialist position. Only another goalkeeper fill in. If, for example, Targett and Taylor get Covid or injured, then a centre back could in theory fill in and do some sort of a job.

Bounty Hunter · 22-10-2020 2:08am

Not like Villa are the only ones taking this precaution too. Petr Cech was named in Chelsea’s squad.

CSF · 22-10-2020 8:39am

If we have an under 21 keeper that would get around it though. Ones that are decent enough to make the bench if required have become valuable.

JPA · 22-10-2020 8:57am

Panrich wrote: »

I can only think that there are real concerns regarding Heaton coming back to full fitness.

If there are he could have been left out until January when squad list can be updated. Seems a waste.

LeBash · 22-10-2020 9:04am

Our keepers have proven to be glass over the last 3 years.

Kalinic has been put in the 25 man squad because he was deemed to be more useful than having Landsbury in it.

AVFC.Stephen · 23-10-2020 5:07pm

Have worn my new black jersey the last few games. I'm not superstitious but this jersey is too cool for school

If we get past the first half unscathed or in front. I reckon we will take them in the 2nd half... without phillips I cant see them having the legs for 90 mins of there tempo

circadian · 23-10-2020 5:10pm

We're all very quiet today.

Radiant Cool Crazy Nightmare · 23-10-2020 5:14pm

AVFC.Stephen wrote: »

Have worn my new black jersey the last few games. I'm not superstitious but this jersey is too cool for school

If we get past the first half unscathed or in front. I reckon we will take them in the 2nd half... without phillips I cant see them having the legs for 90 mins of there tempo

Dont even wash it!

Aston Villa Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours/Champions League Thread 2024/25

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