Now don’t spit your beer, tea or coffee out.
It seemed to have been suggested that because we’ve lost a couple of friendlies, the manager, Unai Emery, needs to go.
Seriously. I’ve seen the comments on social media, courtesy of my younger relations.
It’s just nuts.
Yet it does raise an interesting point that I’ve been contemplating myself.
I watched that starting lineup against Walsall and didn’t know who most of the players were.
That’s fair enough. I don’t know enough about the second string or even lower. And that’s a weakness on my part.
But then, that’s not really what we’re being sold, is it?
No one gives a toss about the lower levels, do they?
Same as the women’s game. No one cares, yet it’s being sold to death. Okay, it did really well in the 1930’s, when there was little option, but it’s a fad now, that won’t be maintained, in my opinion.
No, there’s only one real subject of interest and it’s over-riding. The Premier league.
It sells itself all over the world and execs are coining it in, in pretending that they’re marketing it. They’re not. Football fans all over see the English game and just love it. Blood, guts, pure energy and effort, combined with loads of skill. What’s not to like?
Erm, I could probably take out a few of those factors, but that’s a different subject.
So going back to my point.
I always thought that friendlies were about getting the team up to speed. Granted, the “team” was a lot smaller 40 years ago, but I thought that was the aim?
Now it seems it’s more about using them to look at really young kids and give them a bit of experience at a higher level?
And from what I’ve seen so far, against Walsall and Hansa Rostock today, is that the jump is by far too large. Both games, it’s looked like men against boys to me.
Our kids might be great by some metrics, but I’ve been down this road before in saying that they’re really nowhere near as good as we think.
So if, as I think, playing these kids is going to do nothing in moving the first team forward, what is the point of friendlies?
And jesus, the footy I’ve seen has been terrible.
Way too slow in the build up.
What happened to that “take it to ’em” attitude that Unai used to have?
There’s a fine line between being pragmatic and downright boring.
I suspect I’ll be broaching that sometime this season.
RIP Ozzy. I wasn’t a Black Sabbath fan but there was no doubt that Ozzy had an infectious personality. I wonder if Villa will adopt Paranoid as the team entrance next season. It’s far more upbeat than the other Black Sabbath song from last season.
As for Villa, the silence is deafening! Only the women’s team making any noise. We need to keep what we have got plus 3 more to replace the 3 loanees we had for the second half of last season. The saying that if you stand still then you go backwards is very true. I can’t see a top 7 for us unless we sign quality and I’m beginning to think Monchi isn’t earning his undoubtedly high wage at the moment. All our best players are still from the Dean Smith and dare I say it, Steven Gerrard era!
Come on guys! Sort yourselves out!
Holte, you’re right about Smith. He, Suso, and Purslow knew what they were doing; they brought top quality talent around the 20 year old mark, knowing they’d peak in 5-6 years, which was – I assume – the time scale they (and the owners) set to get back to the top. We made top 4. But the final step has always been the most difficult and insurmountable for our club; it needs megabucks to capture (just) one or two top-line talents for the cherr(ies) on the cake – but they never arrive, for whatever reason. The cake remains iced but never ‘cherried’, and eventually goes stale. Is history repeating itself?
Rashford and Asensio were EXACTLY the correct moves in terms of calibre and profile and outstanding work in January from the board. But they were loans. As you correctly point out, if we can replace those with the same or (ideally) slightly more potent alternatives, then we’re back in business…anyone got a spare 150 million? We could always ask the Mancs if we can borrow some. Oh, hang on…
As you said BFR, is history repeating itself? I remember John Gregory wanting Muzzy Izzet and I think Robbie Keane (first time) to push on. Then under O’Neill we maybe needed a couple more ‘cherries’ but Lerner lost patience and sold our sponge and icing players and the rest is history.
Lerner didn’t lose patience. His wife took him to the cleaners. He was broke. And then came Dr X. Did that really happen????
The ‘Top 4’ are spending like there’s no tomorrow. Utd too. We have to be clever here…
I forgot about the divorce but I wouldn’t exactly say he is broke. Let’s hope our current owners are happily married!
Not forgetting Juninho! Gregory was close, as is Unai. We know how Gregory ended and why. Let’s hope that doesnt happen again. Having said that, Doug tried to sign Les Ferdinand for him but the big man chose the barcodes. Swings and roundabouts…
I believe the problem we’re having is the top players who are on the move are holding out for CL clubs to come in for them. Villa will have to wait for the seconds, unfortunately. Which is why the club should have sued for the United debacle. The ramifications are long term and far-reaching.
Ellis would only go 5.5 for Keane and Coventry got him for 6. What’s an extra half a mil for talent like that? FFS. 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
*error – Brian Little was in charge when Ellis tried to get Les (1995)
He (Lerner) did have financial difficulties not just through his divorce but also the financial crash of 2008.
There is no doubt he had to sell but how Dr Tony passed the fit and proper person test is beyond belief!
R.I.P Ozzy, I had the privilege of playing your music at the Holte public house when I DJ there. Them was CB nights I ran.
Talk Villa are reporting Kamara has signed a new contract which, if true, will be great news after having to suffer the ‘Villa are selling all their best players – mostly to Manure’ click bait.
Great news, but I have this itch of a feeling that if he’s renewed, it’ll include some kind of release clause in there. I’d be more surprised if it didn’t.
Superb news about Kamara. The ‘Boubie’!
Confirmed by the OS; signed a 5 year contract to 2030. The owners and Unai must have convinced him about their future ambitions.
If nothing else it increases his transfer value but, on a more positive note, Villa can now build a side around him.
And don’t forget we signed him on a free – brilliant business.
I thought the same as Texas and I hope I’m wrong. Didn’t Jack sign a long and fat contract shortly before his departure? I really hope I’m wrong.
Come on guys – why all the negative reactions?
A lot of contracts for top players have release clauses included to protect the clubs investment – doesn’t necessarily follow they’re going to leave.
Fabian Delph was the first and worst of it for me. Never forget him annouching at Villa park before the match he had signed a new contract and was staying. Couple weeks later, he went for £10m.
As things stand, Villa’s starting 11:
Martinez
Cash
Konsa
Mings or Pau
Digne or Maatsen
Onana
Kamara
McGinn
Rogers
Ramsey
Watkins
That’s still outstanding. And the understanding these players have after several years playing together is more than other teams will have. It’s the strength in depth that is an issue. If Asensio, Rashford and Disasi are replaced with younger, SUPERIOR, permanent signings, that’s an outstanding window. I know, right-back…
McGinn and Watkins will need replacing next year, and that won’t be easy…
I still think Dougie at 27 is a no-brainer as McGinn’s replacement. Apparently, we have first option. For me, it’s simple.
Just realised I missed Youri off this – the player of the season; the squad is better than we think. We need to replace Rashford (Duran), Asensio (if Buendia is not staying), and Disasi (not convinced by Bogarde as 4th CB). That’s it, realistically.
Kyle Walker has gone to Burnley??? We should’ve been all over that as a 1-2 year stopgap. Would’ve helped Cash and provided top class competition. Missed opportunity.
Not sure that would be a good idea BFR. High earner at the wrong end of his career not in keeping with the way Villa are looking to progress.
Makes sense Hitch, Walker is not the player he was a season ago. I’ll lay a bet that not many clubs called for him either, money plays a big part with agents and players.
1 year like Ashley Young. His vast experience and winning mentality would have been brilliant. And great back-up for Cash while we (still) search for a long term replacement. Oh well.
Is everyone else getting really tired of Villa need to sell Crown Jewels?
I thought I’d have a bit of fun and try and work out the salary savings made with ins and outs from winter transfer window. Especially as SCR is from 1st January to 31st December. Salaries taken from Capology site. There have been a few guesses, such as settlement for Coutihno and salaries of latest arrivals.
Reduced:
Rashford: £225,000
Asencio: £116,500
Duran: £75,000
Carlos: £100,000
Olsen: £50,000
Philogene: £40,000
Disasi: £40,000
House: £10,000
Barrenchela: £15,000
Kessler: £3,000
Ned…: £10,000
Coutinho: £25,000 estimate after paying off
Total: £709,500
Increase:
Malen: £140,000
Garcia: £15,000
Bizot: £30,000 estimate
Ozcan: £20,000 estimate
Redmond: £15,000 estimate
Total: £220,000
Weekly Saving: £489,500
Yearly Saving: £25.4m
An annual saving of £25m should see us meet SCR targets for the coming year.
A critical factor will be the number of players who as of now become fully amortised. For example, Cash, Martinez and Watkins were all bought 5 years ago, so as of now should be no more transfer payments. There estimated purchase approximately £65m, therefore Villa now have £13m per season in amortised transfer fees to play with. It means they could go out and spend £35m on 1 player and £30m on another, when amortised same current outlay.
Like I said, all a bit of fun. I just don’t think we are as restricted as the media make out. I’d value your thoughts.
My thoughts, Sid, are that Villa’s (relative) inactivity in the market (don’t forget they’ve signed 3 highly rated youngsters), is completely tactical and deliberate. And it wouldn’t surprise me if next to nothing changed before the deadline. The reason? Liverpool. How many players did they buy last summer? Exactly. Their squad was settled and well-balanced and the players were ready to win the league, which they did. Our starting 11, if injury free and playing week-in, week-out, is capable of winning the league in terms of ability – or top 4 minimum. Mentality is a different matter, however.
Now look at what Liverpool are doing this summer. My theory is the hierarchy may be thinking keep things tight for one summer, as the players are at optimum age, then the money and interest saved can be double invested a year later for a monster push to the next phase.
Thoughts?
BFR
I tend to agree with you. The interesting part of Emery’s approach is new signings rarely go into the team (unless significant injury occurs eg Mings and Torres).
Although it would not surprise me to see 1 or 2 wide players bought.
On a different note Villa are becoming masters of selling players for top fees and then they flop at their next club.
Carney Chukwuemeka – to Chelsea – player ego
Omari Kellyman – to Chelsea PSR sale
Douglas Louis – Juventus PSR
John Duran – Saudi and now in Turkey 6 months later – allegedly missed training already under Morino
That’s near £160m of sales!
One can hypothesise that Emery has told the owners he can manage with the existing squad – maybe feeling he can even improve the performances particularly if he can get Bailey firing and get the best from Malen in his second season.
On the other hand if the owners manage to unload some fringe players or top earners (e.g. Digne) then expect Unai to dip into the market.
It’s a good point though BFR that Unai eases new signings into the team over a season.
Watched the Frankfurt game and I was quite impressed by two players. Yes. I know it’s early yet but I was impressed by Bizot, not his shot stopping as he basically had none to stop, but his distribution and his calmness when the ball was at his feet. I was also impressed by Onana who bossed his area of the pitch using his physicality as well as his skill.
Also surprised that Bailey got an outing. Many have written him off but, if Emery could get a tune out of him, then I’d be the first to welcome him back.
1874 – didn’t see the game but a couple of interesting points.
Martinez didn’t make an appearance, neither did McGinn but of more interest, I think, is Iling Jnr did. Emery seems to be taking a good, long look at him in the friendlies and wonder whether he might be part of the first team squad this season rather than going out on loan?
What did you make of his 25 minutes in the second half.
The difficulty is assessing new players, or even returning players, when they are coming on as part of wholesale changes. When the real test is how they would fare replacing the incumbent of their position when playing with the other best 10.
Starting with the negatives. Buendia – same as before: nice touches no end product. Rowe – not ready for 1st team football. Gauci – poor keeper. Bailey – never went round the fullback.
Now the maybes. Jebel-Aloa (excuse spelling) – seems physically OK and is quick. Onana seemed to be targeted for fouling, in a league match would have seen 2 opponents sent off for double yellows.
The rest – coming along well, if Frankfurt are #3 in the Bundesliga and in the Champions League, the strongest Villa team were too good for them.
A mention for Malen? Two high quality assists. The right side of attack should be his this season, surely. If he can produce assists like that regularly and add the kind of shooting from the right we saw with his goals last season, we have a very potent weapon on our hands…
Was it Gauci who ballsed up for their equaliser?
TalkShite having a laugh. Ollie to Utd. We take Calvert-Lewis (the Everton reject) as a replacement…Ha ha ha…
Calvert Lewin, even on a free, is too dangerous to contemplate. Not only does he play in a style that makes him injury-prone he also jumps and leads with an elbow to the face of the defender. He would damage our CBs in training.
The only gossip to top that for stupidity is Newcastle thinking of signing Ramsdale – unless they plan to loan him to Sunderland.
Talk of Morgan Rogers being offered an improved contract, even though he has five years left on his current one. At least that shows a bit of ambition, if true.
And in other news, Newcastle tix are available for general sale, including a few in K3 and K5.
I’m quite surprised by that and it looks like prices are very much on the limit now.
£77. Wow.
I would think a lot of Dr, railway workers, Politicians, would be able to buy ticket at them prices. I’d think twice and go on holiday.
Ollie to Man U ramping up now
42 + 4 add ons? That’s about 10-15 short in my opinion. As for selling our talismanic striker to United, it would appear Villa are reverting to type. Yorke and Young spring to mind. Not happy.
If Calvert-Lewin comes in, that’s McCleish/Paul Faulkner territory and the season, at least psychologically, will be in tatters before we’ve even started. F*** that.
Meanwhile, tickets are too expensive to sellout VP and despite the club being well placed to push on after two excellent seasons and a top manager at the helm, it would appear things are slowly beginning to unravel…
I said in my last post I would understand if not much came in, although the 3 major loans ideally need replacing. But selling Ollie to Manure is a blow, in my view.
Not a happy chappy and I worry about dressing room morale if we start the season with a significantly weakened squad.
Mr Grumpy
Ignore all of it BFR. It’s bullshit until it actually happens. Reasons below.
Tom, I don’t see it happening in the slightest.
Why would he, money apart?
Totally media BS, imo.
One of the Manc websites quoted his “I wasn’t happy about not playing” comments from a month ago, as though it was yesterday, for example.
Same as Martinez. Apparently, he hasn’t tried to leverage a move and is happy with us, regardless of the Man U BS.
As I said earlier, the arrogance astounds me.
I hope so, Badger! The mere thought of Dom replacing Ollie is disturbing!
Ron. It won’t happen. Don’t stress.
Wouldn’t it be nice to hear the owners say that Martinez and Watkins are going nowhere. They want the fans to buy the tickets and merchandise and the new shirts with the names on the back which might be sold before the transfer window closes.
Communication from them is pretty much nonexistent. The club is trying to become global and selling its soul in doing so. Fans are purely cash cows and irrelevant. Loyalty is a one way street now unfortunately.
Maybe it’s time to start attending my local non league club as I’m getting more and more disillusioned with the state of the modern game in general.
Whether it’s PSR, SCR, FFP or VAR, it’s all ruining the game we love.
Holte, I’ve said the same, we love Unia but he’s absent to the fans when needed. I hate arrogant people and its looking like he’s following that trend.
Bill, the bloke’s not exactly fluent in English and has enough on his plate. It’s not Unai’s job to communicate with fans in the close season.
Don’t know if anyone has mentioned it but Joao Felix has gone to Saudi. Once touted as the next big thing then off to the footballing graveyard.
Big fat loser. Chose to play in the Carabao for Chelsea rather than be Unai’s main man. Now on the gravy train to nowhere. Enjoy the cash.
And how many times were we linked with him?
It proves my point perfectly.
The media, including John Townley from the Brum Mail know nothing, because employees are tighter than a gnat’s chuff when it comes to handing info out.
Probably because it’s only the owners, Unai and Monchi, plus another couple who have the slightest clue.
That said, you’re right Holte.
The lack of comments saying that players are going nowhere is most likely because they wouldn’t turn down a ridiculous offer for any player and it’s frustrating.
My take is that Rogers is 100% staying. The club have let that be known, apparently.
But old timers(!) like Emi and Olly are probably available at top money.
It’s the lack of anything being leaked that allows all these rubbish stories. No denials are coming out either, so they can basically make anything up.
It’s not good, but stops other clubs taking the P out of us too.
We will only be able to judge anything when the window closes and I very much doubt the club will have maxed out prices with nothing to feed us hungry masses.
I must admit I agree with most of what’s being said and also think club doing same as Liverpool last year in going with what we have and maybe see where we are in January when they may decide again to get some players in then. If in a good position they may try to push on then. But mostly I think next summer is when we’ll see another effort to get into top 5.
There are so many conflicting stories – I have to agree with Badger – it’s all bo**ocks 🙂
I must admit, I love the silence coming from the club. We just quietly do what we need to without all the BS. Why fuel all the clickbait and stirrers?
Whatever will happen, will happen!
Excellent assist from Malen again last night. He should be pushing for a place in the starting 11, surely? I’d go as far as to say we might have scraped CL if his game time hadn’t tailed off in the last few games. Still a mystery as to why.
And a nice assist from Cashy, too.
I see Ozcan has been sent on loan to Anderlecht for the season, with an option to buy. He seems part of this new production line of players bought to deal with PSR / SCR. These players never play for Villa but are bought to sell on for a quick profit.
Interesting point of view I heard. Villa are biding their time for a purchase. Reason being that with limited resources they do not want their intended purchase stolen off them. Waiting for the likes of Liverpool and City to spend up before we move.
That is a very probable reason, Holte. Clubs with superior cash piles and inferior player assessment, have picked up players after Villa had identified them. Spending big is also a demonstration that a club has serious flaws in the existing squad and nobody in reserve that the can promote. The opposite may be the case with Villa. It is significant that all our hot properties have been touted but none has attracted a serious bid.
Meanwhile – on the scrapheap side of the business – Villa’s rehab job on Rashford and before him on Tielemans means we are seen as the last chance saloon for Calvert-Lewin, Garnacho and anybody surplus at Chelsea.
It’s a shame that during the premier league history and particularly the champions league, we haven’t featured until last season. Unfortunately the big 6 have made the gulf between them and ourselves too much to compete. Spurs and Man United despite being terrible teams recently, can still massively outspend us to climb back above us.
We are shopping in the bargain basement while trying to keep our best players from going for bigger wages. Whether Watkins ends up at Man Utd or Newcastle if Isak leaves for Liverpool. Martinez, Ramsey, Torres and Rogers constantly linked with other clubs. Even if we keep hold of them, the media have done their best in unsettling our plans for the season.
I’m seriously concerned about what’s going on at Small Heath too. They are doing a better job at putting their name on people’s tongues thanks to Tom Brady and the Amazon Prime series plus eventually a bigger stadium than ours with events similar to Spurs to boost their revenue.
Meanwhile we are quietly going about our business in America where they have no interest in us and will have no lasting memory of our being there.
I don’t think we are doing a very good job other than to milk it’s currently fanbase.
I don’t expect us to be competitive this season unfortunately and I wouldn’t be surprised if by the end of the season, we have to appoint a new manager.
Come on Villa. Do something interesting to make people talk about us other than who we can sell!!!
I agree villa just seem to be going nowhere fast and yes can see unai leaving. And what’s the point in buying the young centre back and now loaning with option to buy,it makes no sence whatsoever. I too am worried about Birmingham overtaking villa in a few years time they seem to be making all the right noises.
They say their waiting for near end of window to buy by then all best players gone plus means integrating them into the team during the season is not ideal at all.
Can anyone explain what the hells happened with the villa,something is definitely wrong. The owners have been putting money in via shares and last time they borrowed money why it definitely wasn’t for buying players what is happening????
My arse makes all the right noises after a curry. Doesn’t mean it’s anything to worry about and it rarely lasts longer than 48 hours.
F*** Small Heath.
Spaceship stadium 😂 😂 😂