Just a very brief one, but how good was that result? We win at Bournemouth, Ollie surpasses Gabby as Villa’s highest Premier league goalscorer and is also the highest scoring English player in the Prem.
The only blot was Ramsey getting sent off for what was barely a foul, let alone a second yellow, in my opinion. Harsh isn’t the word.
It was a poor game though and the last fifteen minutes had me practically panicking as the pessimist in me expected them to score with all the pressure they applied. And what about that save off the line by Cash in the last few minutes? I nearly filled my shorts.
That said, I felt we controlled the game really well, defended well enough to keep them at bay and actually looked the better side for most of the game, while producing the majority of the threat.
So deserved then.
Any bad performances? Not really, although I thought Asensio was invisible again. I don’t see that he’s done enough to justify us signing him at his wages. But then I wouldn’t say there were any particularly good performances either. It was all just a bit, er, average really, wasn’t it?
It was all about the result though and the lads got it, which is all that matters. Well done.
And a big shout out for the fans too, who were outstanding and my man of the match. If you can actually give it to a crowd?
UNBELIEVABLE STATISTIC !!
In what table this season are the top four teams LEICESTER, FULHAM, BRENTFORD and WOLVES – and the bottom four teams are NEWCASTLE, ARSENAL, MAN UTD and SPURS?
Average away EPL match attendances.
Here’s a question – it appears that Luis may be making overtures to Villa for a return to the club.
If so – would you have him back and at what price?
For me, yes as he would certainly add strength and depth to the squad and good players don’t become bad ones overnight – but the price would have to be sensible around £25m – £30m.
25 tops.
He’s only just turned 27. Peak. McGinn will be 31 in October. Perfect solution? Dougie loves us and we love him…
Luiz is one I would have back. It would work.£15m though.
No chance, Bum Bum.
Got to be a better option than Ascencio
An excellent point. As Dougie had the skill set to play the number 8 role. Though balls and goals a plenty. And no risk of not settling. No brainer.
Ye I’d have Dougie back tomorrow
Eze from Palace would be another amazing signing, I think he has a release clause. If we have to sacrifice JJ for PSR I could live with that…
Agreed Neil; I’d have him top of my wish list.
The other player I’d go for is Wissa at Brentford.
Bournemouth have some top quality defenders; Kerkez, Huijsen and Senesi would all add to our squad.
Win our next two games; qualify for the CL and with Emery as coach we’ll be in the pound seat for substantially upgrading the squad.
Mbuemo is as good as Wissa. Lacroix worth a look for the defence? Agree on Eze.
I do like Wharton as well. Pulls strings and loves a forward pass.
Mings broke the Bournemouth lad’s jaw on Saturday, which is unfortunate ti say the least. Not the first time he’s done some serious damage. And shows why he should have played at Wembley along with Onana. Physicality was what was missing.
I’ve watched it a few times and whilst Mings does have his arm (elbow) extended he has his back to Scott and doesn’t move his arm towards the Bournemouth player.
Also Scott launches himself at Mings and is a good deal shorter – not probably the best idea!
It’s unfortunate but is an accidental coming together.
Where I do agree is that Mings physical and dominating presence is vital in EPL games and, imho, he should start in our two remaining games.
Torres might be the more cultured player but that’s not what we need to get the remaining 6 points.
Having said all that I can see Emery starting Torres ahead of Mings against Spuds!
I don’t agree about the cultured point, Hitch. Mings was originally a full back and can play. He often forages forward and gets close to the opposition area. He’s also at least as likely to score a header than Pau, probably more so. I think his physical presence makes us stereotype him. He can play out from the back, no problem.
Exactly right Hitch. Scott charges Mings from behind and smacks his face at speed into Mings’ forearm. Not the usual movement for an elbow in the face, but that is how it happened.
Amorim used a number of first team started against Spam and they were shafted and hit by injuries. Will he learn and genuinely rest them next week?
Bum Bum, sorry to inform but there will be no need to rest anyone as the Europa final is 4 days BEFORE we play them. We can only hope that if they win, they’ll be on the beach, and if they lose, they’ll be in the gutter. Either way, we’ll need to be in top gear and play it as if it’s a final, as it essentially is…
I have a sneaking suspicion the Spuds are going to win that.
Bugger. Then again, if they win they won’t give a shit. If they lose, they will feel worthless.
BB don’t forget mate, there’s no love lost between the Spuds and Chelsea.
Apparently Utd are flying to Asia immediately after our game against them, for a pre-season tour. We won’t get a better opportunity to get a win at Old Trafford
Pre season? No rest for the wicked eh?
About the only time this season they’ve been flying.
Apparently, Marinakis stormed onto the pitch to remonstrate with Nuno after the Leicester game. Poor. Very poor.
I wonder what Nuno said to the fat Greek? If you’ve lost your marbles – try the British Museum.
Priceless OLL! 🙂
I guess there’s a fine line between priceless and crass.
Taiwo Awoniyi. Awful news. What did everyone say about that stupid effing rule!!!!
Oh man. I’ve just Googled it. 🙁
Apparently, that’s what Marinakis was talking to Nuno about, so we shouldn’t assume he was ranting about dropping 2 points.
When I saw him on the pitch it didn’t look like he was having a go at Nuno, just blowing off about something else. Now we know why.
He wasn’t happy that the medical team kept the player on. Easy to jump to conclusions.
https://x.com/NFFC/status/1922308419215647220?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1922308419215647220%7Ctwgr%5E8ba65840ef1df95d3e1087f7f9b0f2ccbb94482e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Farticle-14708903%2FNottingham-Forest-Taiwo-Awoniyi-induced-coma-surgery-intensive-care.html
What a mess.
Wish the lad all the best.
A freak injury but he’s not the first to get injured unnecessarily due to this stupid IFAB directive driven by a discredited VAR on offside.
Really good statement by Forest. 👏👏👏
Just seen Villa’s goal of the season nominations for the awards dinner. Duran is not shortlisted. Pointless.
First place: Duran v Everton
Second: Duran v Bayern
Third: who cares?
Cancel culture. 🤦
Asensio at £12.5 mill?
I know many have complained about him lately, but that’s pennies if we can get his wages right, I’d suggest.
I believe he’s on around £116K per week at PSG running until June 26 so keeping his wages within Villa’s present structure shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
https://tickets.avfc.co.uk/en-GB/categories/home-tickets?dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.avfc.co.uk%2F&utm_campaign=Tickets_U18&utm_content=&utm_medium=Pop-up&utm_source=Splash
Aston Villa U18 v Manchester City U18
U18 Premier League National Final
Villa Park £1.
Saw that Badger – if he can be acquired for that sort of money on reasonable wages then I’m all for it.
Emery is clearly keen on him and, according to reports, he wants to stay and work with him.
Gerrard was keen on Coutinho and Phil was keen to work with him. Not convinced.
Not for me, thanks. Coutinho mk11.
Think you’re comparing apples with pears here BFR – both player and manager.
I’m on the fence with Asensio. Started his loan spell with a bang but recently he seems more of a luxury player. The transfer fee of £12.5m is very reasonable but anything around £100k per week for a player 29 years old takes away from spending on a couple of young and hungry players like Rogers who we could make a huge profit on.
The key players we need to hold onto are Martinez, Konsa, Tielemans, Kamara and McGinn. All the others are sellable assets who can be replaced. I would like to see Torres, Mings, Bogarde, Onana, Ramsey, Maatsen, Malen, Rogers and Watkins stay for continuity.
If we can offload Digne (only because of his wages) Barkley and Bailey to comply with PSR, then I would be satisfied with that. Matty Cash is another who I think is great for squad morale but I think we need an upgrade, whether that’s Garcia, who knows. Talking of players getting off the books, aren’t Coutinho and Hause coming off the wage bill this summer?
If you believe all the crap in the media, we need to sell someone of high value before the end of June to meet PSR. With all the links of our best players going in the summer, we won’t have anyone left!
I’m not convinced we have PSR issues but we do have wage / squad ratio cost problems.
The important challenge this close season is to get rid of the high earners who contribute nothing.
We have a number of loanees coming back that should raise a few million in sales.
His early goals were not flukes. A steal at 12.5 Mill.
Coutinho’s early goals weren’t flukes either. They were better than Asensio’s.
BFR, we’ve sold totally inexperienced kids for more than that.
For a player with his experience, ability and having achieved what he has, it’s a no-brainer for me, even if he’s only a squad/impact player.
And then we have to consider that Emery will probably improve him!
Badger, the cost is completely irrelevant. You’re falling into the clever marketing traps that supermarkets set to make us buy things we don’t need or are close to expiry.
The question is not, “how much?” but a. Will he take us up a level? And b. Can we do better? Answers: no he won’t, based on overall output during his loan. And yes, we can do better, and if it costs 60+, I’d rather we did that.
UTV
Dendoncker out and Asensio in.
Asensio on his day is a great player.
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve slated him myself lately, but this is a pragmatic opinion. He can improve us, generally.
No brainer, like I said.
And he’s 29, although you talk as though he’s mid 30’s????
If you don’t believe that massively improves the squad and takes us up a level, well…..
So we compare Asensio to Dendonker in order to justify the notion of squad ‘improvement’? Not buying, Badger. And to be honest, that’s probably the poorest argument I’ve ever seen on this site. And 29 is over the hill. Ask Sir Alex. Nothing personal.
Questions: are we looking forward to an FA Cup Final next week? Nope. Did we manage to get past PSG, despite it being agonisingly close? Nope. Conclusion: Asensio – the superstar, the difference maker, DIDN’T make the difference.
Whatever he costs, it will be a waste of that money.
‘On his day’? Oh dear. When is it ‘his day’, Badger? In other words, whenever he can be arsed? Missed two pens against the worst team in the league and didn’t make the difference in the games that mattered – the big games – the games that define seasons and histories of big clubs. Not the kind of player we should be courting. If ever a player needs backing with the ‘on his day’ argument, you know there’s a problem.
Collymore, Coutinho, Ginola…Rashford. Many many more. Every one a ‘great player’ ‘on his day.’ No. And I won’t even add a ‘thank you.’ Just no.
Why so wound up?
You must have missed his good performances when he first came. On his day when he was outstanding and got two goals, for example.
Look, the Dendonker reference was to illustrate that we’re getting rid of poor players and replacing them with better ones. Even if YOU don’t rate him.
And if you don’t think Asensio is a better player than Dendonker, it’s pointless continuing the debate.
My point is we got way more money for Kellyman. That’s what £12.5 mill is. Pennies in the scheme of things for a player who has proven what he can do. Even if you think he doesn’t do it enough.
If Unai wants him, that’s good enough for me and as I said, he’ll probably improve him.
Time will tell, Badger. I’ll be delighted if I’m proved wrong and will be the first to admit it. However, I recall the clamour on here for the ‘bargain’ Coutinho and I warned that he’d not done enough during the loan – essentially a ‘try before you buy’ audition – and that we shouldn’t buy. The argument was the price. My argument was that it’s cheap for a reason.
When we moan about Unai doing the same and getting it wrong, we use ‘the definition of madness’ argument. How is this different? We’d be making the same costly mistake 3 years later. This at a time where there have been very recent comments about the club’s ‘wage/squad ratio problems’. Yet your argument seems to be get one leech off the books and saddle the club with a more glamorous one. I don’t get that, Badger.
Sorry about the tone. Just passionate. And I find it generally frustrating when lessons aren’t learned.
UTV
Buy young and hungry. Not old and enigmatic. That’s essentially my argument. I’d prefer Dougie is brought back. Younger that Asensio and more end product. I’d even prefer Dibling. Will be cheaper, way more (unlimited) potential and will be able to sell for a a huge profit when, like you say, Unai improves him. I think those are sound arguments, Badger.
Dibbling cheaper – pull the other one BFR. Southampton will want a shed load for him – my guess north of £30m or they won’t sell.
This is the point Badger’s making. Young players with limited talent are being PSR’d at inflated prices – if you want them young you have to ‘buy’ when they’re 16 or under and hope a couple make the grade. Villa are doing an excellent job in this arena – U18’s winning the FA Youth Cup and the Southern U18 Premier League with a play off against Citeh (again) for the Premier League National Cup and again at VP.
You really can’t compare Asensio with Coutinho – just look at their overall track record! Coutinho was a Gerrard marque signing on a five year contract at, allegedly, £200k a week. Yes, we all got excited because it signalled Villa’s intent. Yes, it all went wrong but I think it’s a poor comparison.
I don’t want Rashford, now he, imho, is comparable with Coutinho. At £40m plus his wages it would be another 5 year contract that will go horribly wrong.
It’s all about opinion and part of what makes football so compelling.
Lower wages, Hitch, which was your earlier argument against PSR. And the potentially triple their initial investment (at least) – see Rogers. So the balance sheet is +, not -. You should know the numbers better than most. Makes sense, does it not?
Of course it’s about opinion. It’s been a while since we had a good debate.
On the Coutinho comparison, I don’t think you could get a closer one. OK, Asensio won a few pots (let’s anyone be honest, anyone would if they were around Madrid for a few years). But Coutinho was world class at Liverpool, then played for two of Europe’s giants. But his star was fading. Then he had an iffy loan period with Villa. Isn’t that very very similar to Asensio???
*and the club
Dibling at 30 is far better value than Asensio at 12. His dribbling reminds me of Grealish. Natural talent.
I take your point about wages and, yes, you’re correct I think our issues are more about squad ratio costs which is the financial regulation used by UEFA rather than PSR which the EPL is set to continue with for another season (at least) as it benefits their favoured clubs!
Most financial commentators point to Villa’s extraordinarily high wage to revenue percentage although income from the CL will have helped. I read that Villa have accepted they will receive a (small?) fine from EUFA for breaching it this year but cannot do so again next without more serious consequences!
We need to get Coutinho, Buendia, Hause and other loanees off our books to reduce the wages burden. I can also see Bailey going which woukd allow a Dibling to come in.
On balance though, as long as Asensio’s wages are within our structure, I would still support him joining us.
Anybody watched Canadian Pete’s Bournemouth show?
He’s scathing about Spuds and Manure and really lays into the EPL about the latest fixture changes and reminds us they also shafted us by moving the Liverpool game back.
Worth a watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtHO_HDemxQ
Interesting viewing showing all of Ollies goals. Some reminders of empty grounds as well.
Turning to tomorrow’s game, am I the only one not seeing it as a foregone conclusion?
The general consensus is that Ange will put out a weakened side protecting his ‘match winners’ for next Wednesday’s Final – but will he?
If Villa go into this game thinking it’s a foregone conclusion – something they have been guilty of – then Spuds will turn us over and they have history of whacking us around the head at VP.
In Solanki and Son they have players that love scoring against us!
So much resting on tomorrow to take it to the last game of the season – very nervous!
Agreed Hitch. Spurs have spanked us a few times a bit like the Barcodes and Palace. We need to play like we did at home to the Barcodes and show no mercy! Whatever team Ange picks will be no mugs. The consensus is a number of players will get 45 minutes including Son who loves playing against us.
Rogers is a fluke. When he arrived at £8m we all moaned as we deemed it bargain basement rubbish. What he’s turned into, we’d never have guessed. Same with Kamera on a free. Every purchase is a gamble. Like when Robinho sihned for Citeh. What a sh1tshow that was.
…signed for Citeh. Sigh.