I found myself highly encouraged by this performance.
I didn’t think it would be easy and indeed Burnley had us on the back foot in the first third of the second half, which concerned me because it seemed we eased off more than the home side came into their own. Fortunately, we managed to ride the storm, even though they managed to score straight after the break, which was disappointing. Still, I suppose every team has it’s bright part in a game but fortunately Burnley didn’t take their chances, while we did.
That dodgy period apart though, I thought we were pretty much in control and looked to be a very well set up side. We dominated the midfield, with McGinn being his industrious old self and he was ably assisted by pretty much everyone around him.
It was notable that we tended to double up a lot on the opposition, with Konsa backing up Matty Cash, who was allowed to venture forward and go on to get two very good goals. Thinking about it, Konsa could easily be my man of the match, as he did very little wrong, but I think I could easily say that about quite a few of our players. Kamara, Luiz and Torres all generally looked pretty tidy.
There were a few scary moments with our playing around at the back, but I certainly don’t feel as scared as I did when we first started playing that way.
Watkins looks like he couldn’t hit a cow’s proverbial with a banjo, but I’m not going to criticise him. Whereas Diaby is looking like he could be a real asset for us.
I thought Zaniolo looked fairly decent too and made a bright debut, as much as I thought he looked like a fish out of water in his first couple of minutes. He was far too close to his teammates when they were in possession of the ball and it looked like he didn’t know where to go.
He soon got into it though and moved around nicely and even having a greedy effort where it would have been far simpler to pass it to Watkins who was in a much better position. I’m sure Emery will pull him up about that, but I suppose it’s nice to see such self belief.
So all in all, it’s been a fantastic week and after the Newcastle shoeing, we’ve now scored 12 goals in three games. It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?
I’m a very happy bunny.
UTV!
That Archer looks a player perhaps we should go for him in Jan
I can’t but help thinking we’ve made a boo boo not giving him a chance. Oh well!!!
And the second.
Let’s hope that’s going to cost us a few mill to get him back.
I never wanted him to go, as I think he’s quality, but if we can’t give him a game…..
Archer hits the post and the ball hits Pickford’s back and in. Can we buy him back now please.
So the decision to let Archer go an play seems like the right one as of now! Brilliant first goal and made the 2nd too to cause Pickford OG. I just hope when the buyback clause is activated its not too high! Still think he could have done a job this season but he needs 60 plus mins week in week out and we can’t give him that.
Bring Archer home, now! I’ve been saying for years this lad is the real deal. Very frustrated and ever so slightly angry to see him producing that. He never got a f****** chance! Despite the brilliant cameos. Gutted, to be honest. Absolutely gutted.
Great to see Cameron Archer off the mark at Sheffield United. Early days yet, but he does have a good goal to game ratio. More importantly he’s getting premier experience. It is goes well we can buy him back and bring in a proven player in the Premier. I do like the word “elite” that is now being attached to Villa and we are now acting in an elite way.
With regards to Coutinho / Buendia replacement I believe the long term replacement will be Kellyman. Under Emery if you are potentially good enough he will loan you out for development. Look how Revan played well on Thursday in Europe and was loaned out to Rotherham yesterday. If the player does well on loan and needs premier experience they are sold in a buy back bases e.g. Archer, Philogene and Ramsey. And finally to the exceptional player – Kellyman. I believe Emery will start to play him in Europe in certain matches and very occasionally bring in in the Premier. He may well use the approach Pep used for Fodden. The future is bright!
As BFR said about great managers manage the season, Emery in addition is future proofing Villa.
Agree Sid. Just frustrating to see a natural goalscorer let go and producing in the wrong colours, especially one of our own, albeit with a buyback clause. We need squad depth. The cups and Europe would have been ideal for Archer as well as impact sub in The league. That’s my view and I’m sticking to it.
If there’s one player I’d love at Villa it would be Foden. Great player.
I was going to be fair to Ollie, but sod it. Archer looks a far better finisher. And we’ve said it many times! I compared him to Kane two years ago. Difference is Spurs showed faith and gave him game time. I suggested giving the number 9 to Archer last summer and watching him go. So so so f****** frustrated! 😡😡😡
I’m pleased for Archer getting a goal on his debut and a great effort which hit the post then Pickford before going in. I hoped he would stay but he will improve more playing regularly. The buy back clause is a positive though in safeguarding our assets.
Does anyone know if Philogene has a buy back clause? I read it’s a permanent transfer.
I think the buy back clause has been added to all our half decent sales…
Here’s the understanding of the deal;
“Villa are set to include a buy-back clause plus a sell-on clause to be inserted into Philogene’s deal, similar to what they did when selling Aaron Ramsey to Burnley earlier this month.”
Courtesy of;
https://www.teamtalk.com/news/sources-promising-aston-villa-winger-jaden-philogene-set-join-hull-city-despite-ipswich-links
Man city given a VAR and it’s just ridiculous.
I’ve lost faith in this now, entirely.
How can he not be interfering with play there?
Joke.
Badger Oliver is bent as a five Bob note , when are the FA going to start looking into referee standards? Bent bent football now we are given. Cricket would have shown even a wind between ball and foot . He’s offside.
Here’s an interesting one, I feel.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12473083/Premier-League-clubs-SMASHED-gross-spending-record-one-transfer-window-single-league-summer-2-4-BILLION-splashed-players-end-deadline-day.html#comments
Villa were the 12th highest spenders in this window and the 6th lowest net spenders.
FFP?
I’m actually quite happy with our business, but I’m not entirely convinced FFP is the reason. I suspect most other clubs are in a similar, if not worse situation.
I’m just putting it out there.
Bear in mind that we have neither the 60,000+ ground capacity (ManUre, Arsenal, Spurs, Wham, etc.,) , nor one of the ‘questionable’ mega-sponsorship deals (Mancs, Arsenal, Newcastle?) to directly compete with those clubs in terms of FFP.
And while on that subject, I still believe that Chelsa’s ‘creative accounting’ splurge is going to cause them a major headache in a year or two – but maybe that’s just my 40+ years in accountancy clouding my judgment.
Hopefully, if we manage a decent season – especially with some European TV exposure – we’ll be in a better position to try and bag a really big commercial sponsorship deal in the future.
Plus the mega bucks they are earning from European football!
That’s why we need to be there on a regular basis.
Ground capacity has very little to do with it, unfortunately, Ardent.
Yes, I suppose it’s all about Europe.
You’d guess the Conference is worth buttons, but it’s all about stepping stones and I’m happy with the way we’re going.
Ground capacity may not be as important as it used to be, but don’t ignore it altogether:
An extra 20,000 seats, say at £30 per ticket, just for 19 home league games adds up to an extra £11.4m per season. Throw-in a couple of late-stage cup games, or European games, and that goes up.
In ManU’s case, their 75,000 capacity means substantially more match-day revenue.
The 60,000 minimum seems to be the modern ‘standard’ for new stadia, just a shame that WHam got their’s at the taxpayer’s expense.
I’d never ignore it, Ardent, as the numbers grieve me and no doubt any other supporter.
It’s still only a small percentage of revenue though unfortunately, as much as Man U’s might dwarf anyone one else.
The 100% curse of Sky 🙁
Forest win at Chelsea.
HaHahahahahahaha etc
The results have gone well for us and we drop just one place before tonights game. Just a little worrying is the fact that the two teams we have beaten have just one point between them in 7 games. Tomorrow will be a real test but this seems a good time to be playing pool and we can get a result.
That’s a fair observation Gerry but we can only beat the team in front of us.
More worrying would be if we hadn’t come away with six points.
Still, we need to show that we can compete with the teams that will be around the top six cone the end of the season.
At least we are now getting points from the bottom half teams. Before Emery our record was appalling.
I have sort of hinted that Burnley and Everton are not real tests, while not writing off our good results.
I think Hitch has it summed up well;
You can only beat what’s in front of you.
I think it’s turned out to be a perfect warm up to the season proper.
Now we need to prove that we can kick arse against a proper team.
And I suspect we will.
Will that give the result we want?
Tune in next week!
Or more realistically, I’ll write some rubbish later or tomorrow 🙂