I’ve been waiting a week since my last post for something more solid to happen, but sadly I’m reduced to speculation again.
I’m sorry, but I find it difficult to wind myself up about speculation these days, as I’ve had my fill of it over the years.
But that said, some of the speculation raises some decent points for discussion.
The fist one is Hamburg have apparently bid £8 mill for Jordan Ayew, if you believe the Daily Mail.
I find this an interesting one, as although we can pretty much get our money back here (and get rid of more fat wages), Tony Xia has come out on Twitter and said the player is staying.
The report comments that Ayew has scored 3 goals in 2 games, but what does that mean, given the opposition played?
I suspect the only way Ayew will be leaving is if we have a seriously better prospect lined up, as his versatility in being able to play anywhere up front or just behind makes him quite valuable to us, given the supposed lesser opposition we’ll be facing this season.
I have a feeling he’ll be staying, unless he really, really wants out.
Then RDM is apparently willing to let Brad Guzan go on a freebie, to Middlesbrough.
This one makes much more sense, seeing as we’ve just signed Gollini, as although I fail to remember what sort of wages the former no 1 is on, you can bet it’s way too much.
So yes, I suspect there may be something in this story.
There’s other stuff, that talks about Vertout’s advisors not fancying his move to Marseilles.
Oh, what’s that agents?
A player wants to move for maybe less money, which doesn’t suit you?
What a shame and F*** you, is my opinion there.
If the lad isn’t happy, wants to move and thinks he has better opportunities elsewhere, even if it costs him money, then he has my blessing. Regardless of my opinion of him as a player.
I actually find this story quite refreshing and wish him all the best if he does leave. 100% fair play to the lad.
And then there’s the news that we’ve sold out our 2,000 ticket allocation and have asked for more, for the Sheffield Wednesday game.
I’d have asked for a boycott at £42 a ticket normally, but I also knew that it would be a waste of time.
I watched the Villa play there around 1979-80 and the ground is very high on my list of football experiences.
For those of you who have yet to experience Hilsborough, but are going, fill your boots; as no doubt while it’s not quite what it used to be 30 odd years ago, it’s still a brilliant ground, I’d guess.
Massive stands and nearly on a par with VP, in it’s heyday.
Only nearly, mind.
In the meantime, we might be in for some players, if you believe the rumours.
But we have to get rid of some first.
And I seriously think this might lead to a few unpleasant surprises.
Surprised at the above comments – were we watching the same match?
I thought we played with a purpose and quite a lot of commitment. There was actually a shape to the team, a little defensive perhaps, but given out previous frailties in that area I’m not surprised.
We deserved the win against a good top division French side. Gana was absolutely immense and the best player on the pitch by a mile and (dare I say it) Hutton also played his socks off.
I think this is one of the best games I’ve seen Villa play for quite some time.
Roll on the Wednesday game!
Yes you did watch another match…I watched one with no penetration.
Pat57, im surprised at what you’ve seen? Sorry my mate but lay off the Guinness for a while.
Yes there was no penetration but we won didn’t we? As our defense was the major problem last season it was nice to see us stay in shape and give no last minute goals away. Don’t forget that we’re still very much a work in progress.
It was a friendly but we won. What the f*** do you want?
No need to get upset and start swearing just because some don’t agree with you.
Now calm down before you have a heart attack.
What the fuck do I want,? Well pat57 a game of football would be nice for a change, ok the goalkeeper played well and we did keep the shape in defence, but sod this passing to get rid and not creating chances, if you like to see that in a match I don’t, its all about attacking defences not tip tap football. I would not want to pay to see that every week, would I he’ll.
i have to side with bill & div3, but that said doesn’t make my opinion right. i just can’t say the match was anything but boring first half. second half got alittle better, but we offered nothing in attacking sense.gestede was isolated which is a worry.
our defensive shape was good and goalie looked a save pair of hands but i thought the french team wasn’t that much better than us. two poor sides going forwards. i know it was pre season and its about fitness. thats why i will say it was a decent workout and needed, we will improve for this game.
Quicker Di Matteo goes the better
Typical negative Italian.
Italian!?, he’s Swiss. He may’ve played for Italy but he was definitely born in Switzerland!
Two bad teams playing this evening. We played bad and won not a bad thing. There must be major improvement in the next game. I keep repeating myself we need new faces in ASAP. Last seasons players get rid. Except Ayew and Amavi.
Some simple observations on the best use of Gestede. He reminds me a bit of Fellaini, and a little of Heskey. He is not the sort of forward you can lob long balls up to and expect him to take then out of the air and shield the ball until colleagues run into position. Therefore if we are playing long balls forward we need another forward to do this task. Or – more likely – we need to get the wingers on the ball. Crosses into the box for Gestede need to arrive on his head from an angle of less than 90 degrees from the direction he is going to head it. I.e. the winger gets to the goal line and crosses back towards Gestede. I have also noticed Gestede is much more likely to score with his feet if the ball comes from his right than from his left.
Let me know when this penny seems to have dropped.
Absolutley right. We haven’t had a real center forward since Peter Withe. He would get the ball and nobody could take it off him.if we are going to play a 4-2-3-1 system then you need your #9 to control the ball and keep it.
gestede is a problem, he does need crosses which we rarely deliver. he doesn’t give you a starting point,somebody you can feed or punt the ball too and he holds it up and feeds midfielders coming on to the ball. in fact hes poor at holding the ball up. yesterday he was invisible until he scored
if he is the main attacker, we need to see more from him, we also need a better plan to getting him into the game. causing trouble for defenders. he is easy to mark outside the box.
this is why i didn’t mind Gil leaving he wasn’t a winger that crosses and stays out wide giving the team a option. he always drifts inside. to get the best out of gestede. we need players like green that love to run the line and cross inviting balls into the area of danger and this is where gestede comes alive
Morning Nath, I don’t think I was out in saying that game apart from the defensive point of view was petty much a reminder of last season’s games, why can we not find a player in midfield that’s solid and penetrates other defences? Did we not stay in our own half for most of that match, how many times we lost the ball, but have to agree we got it back most times, but shots on goal? 3 at the most.
with the ball we did nothing bill adventurous, which is a massive disappointment as it was a friendly. surely you try to attack and take the game to the opposition without fear. ur correct we stayed in our own half. passing from right to left and back, but we never worked the ball in their territory under pressure.
i don’t want to be to critical of the performance, cause number of things contributed. but like you and most villa fans we want to get back into premiership. to achieve this we will have to score goals and last night we created nothing.
good points we worked hard out of possession, goalie looked like he gave the defense confidence that he was there if they messed up. and defense looked organized.
i don’t know the french league bill. are nantes any good, also when does their season begin. from what we saw last night they wasn’t a million miles better with the ball too. i am absolutely certain that a bottom 5 championship team will cause more trouble than nantes did to us. i would be grateful if somebody could correct me in last nights opposition and how good they are.
Boro will be a good tester you’ll get a better idea of the players he’s favouring to start the season off.yesterday a wins a win if it had been 3points would we still be so critical on how we managed it.it’s nice to quote the word WIN for a change I hope I get used to it. UTV
I agree Giddy a wins a win, but not the same motionless attitudes, Yes let’s be more critical when the league kicks off and from that showing plenty to chew over I bet.
Pre season wins mean nothing. England had 10 of them so to speak then got battered by Iceland when it mattered in a tournament!
Didn’t see the Nantes game probably because I was trying to get through (or should that be to) Dover enroute to France!
However from comments on here comes back to my point that we desperately need creativity in mid field and have done so for several seasons. That would include a specialist winger who can cross from the goal line.
A new striker – well not to be ignored – but without someone to create the chances – waste of time.
i think we might have one player at the club that can take the winger role. andre green might be raw, but has the ability we need. quick feet can cross decently and loves taking on the defenders. we can’t be afraid to play the youth, if they have the ability then they should be played. grealish also ran at the defenders when they both came on, it was refreshing.
hope RDM doesn’t ignore these players cause of lack of 1st team appearances, grealish, green and hepburn-murphy all can play vital roles this season.
ayew played the floating role and also looked good alittle deeper. but this means we had gestede upfront. and isolated. something which we need to address.
Good shout Nath.
Hitch, you might have been upset about how the team looked at it, me its bust a gut not a oh well its only a friendly, I know that Di -Matteo finding his team but he should in still to any player you get paid to work and show wanting.lets let players know now you are going to put right what you all got wrong by the club and fans, im away shortly and on the sea will miss two games , hope we get a midfielder and a descent winger , we need them.
Hi Bill, if you’re sailing from Dover you better start out now 🙂 🙂 Have a good one.
No Hitch, Debrovnic, worrying about my allotments at the minute, still holidays first.
BON VOYAGE MATE av a good un 😀
Cheers Giddy, all inclusive mate😊:-) get it down yer,
Too right mate drink em dry enjoy 😀