There’s not really much happening, but I thought I might go through a few things, just to see if they raise some discussion points.
First off is the news that AVFC have banned eleven members of Brigada 1874 from the ground on the basis that they’ve ignored warnings about the ground regulations.
Now I know that there are mixed feelings about this group, but it strikes me as a shame.
Yes, I know they can be a pain in the backside in being rowdy and obstructing the view, etc, but my experience is that they do help to create a better atmosphere; something that has been desperately lacking at Villa Park at times, in my opinion.
Football grounds are already too sterile and while I know the club will say they have to follow the rules, I do suspect they go out of their way to make examples of this sort of thing and it just alienates those who run the club from the fans even more.
But then, perhaps I’ve got things wrong?
The club has been awarded the “best fan engagement” at the Football business awards.
I’m not sure what to think about that, but it’s probably another irrelevant KPI box ticked.
We’ve been linked to various players already, but I’m not even going to go into those stories, as I think they’re all total rubbish.
I very much doubt Remi Garde has had time to properly assess the players we have got, seeing as he only met them face to face for the first time just over a week ago, let alone have made up his mind about who he wants in.
Perhaps of more interest is the story that Tiago Ilori could be on his way back to Liverpool, as Jurgen Klopp wants to see all the available players.
That part might make sense, but what doesn’t, is the news that the player is supposed to be injured or at least not fit.
So why they’d want to recall a player who isn’t ready, when we’re paying his wages, doesn’t make sense to me. No doubt we’ll see.
Talksport (yes, I know) ran an article about some super computer that has run an algorithm that predicts the final league positions.
We’re predicted to come 18th. That’s possibly an improvement on last months prediction.
They also ran an article about the average height of teams, where a quick glance showed we were around midtable and the conclusion was that height doesn’t matter.
Talk about irrelevant subjects, but I do have to laugh.
I don’t think I’ll bother putting links up for them.
In better news, the under-21s whupped Genk 1-6 in Belgium. Hepburn-Murphy bagged a couple and that’s a great result at any level.
So we need a left back with a bit of pace, to cover us for 7 weeks until we can buy somebody, preferably able to get forward occasionally and cross a ball – and he has to be at Villa now! Tough one that, but we do have a player not wanted elsewhere in the team who could do the job. Gabby.
Gabby at left bk seriously. Why is it are defenders are injury prone and what was he doing playing in a meaningless international when we need him. Joke
That kind of injury doesn’t mean injury prone, it’s just a bad injury. And he wants to impress enough to make the senior France squad, he wanted to play that “meaningless” International. 99.9% of players do.
We don’t even know the extent of the injury yet. Do you work for the club ? Let’s not panic.
OS (and France U21’s coach) being pretty cagey about the extent of Amavi’s injury.
Hitch, word is knee injury bad sprain or might be tissue damage unable to say yet.report out later. looking at the video hard to say, but you know how some players are, read between the lines.
Saw the update on the OS Bill – just have to wait. Whatever the result (of the scans) he’s likely to be out for an extended period just hope it’s not the rest of the season. Another test for Garde – one we could do without – but it will be interesting to see how he responds tactically. Let’s hope there are no more injuries in tonight’s games.
Just wondering (no hoping really) whether Amavi’s injury is that bad?
Nothing in the BBC site yet about it. (Mutters a prayer)
My bet is 8 weeks out. Which means were stuck with Richardson ffs. I’d maybe get someone from the reserves give them a chance maybe, don’t know who though!?
Best bet is Kinsella.
Can we get Cissokho back, or is it a season long loan?
This is a big blow to Villa if our LB is out for a while. I was thinking about Cissoko can he be called back. I think he played under Garde in France
Nope, neither him nor Bennett can come back due to neither being part of the 25 man squad so recalling them wouldn’t do anything. We’re stuck with Richardson or Kinsella.
In fairness, Crespo was a left back and center back last season before we signed him. So he could replace Amavi for now.
No ideal and he will be out of position, but how about Bacuna?
Bacuna probably wouldn’t be the worst idea. Could always play Clark there too, and have Lescott next to Richards, which is far from ideal but Clark defensively would add stability to the back. Could also go 3 at the back and play with wingbacks.
I would be open to a balanced 3 at the back, but it is still the same question though – who plays left, because I think we would still need someone to make an attempt to track back and I know N’Zogbia, Sinclair, and Grealish won’t be doing much of that.
I think Gabby could work as a wingback as he’ll track back. Not as a straight up Left Back though. Sinclair might work for a couple games too. Or Bacuna on the left as a wingback.
Credit to Gabby, he would play anywhere. I would love to see it.
Thanks for that info Andrew. I forgot about the 25 man squad
The thought of Gabby as a LB/LWB fascinates me.
Do any of us seriously think he can defend like a defender should?
Seriously?
I’d rather have Bennett and that’s saying something.
LWB possibly, with 3 CB’s behind him and Sanchez around, I think he’d do pretty decent, at least for 2 months. Well month and a half. Or if Amavi’s not back yet.
No of course he couldn’t. I think FB is one of the hardest positions to play. Gabby does not have anything like the concentration and awareness needed. God help us if he plays there. At least as a forward he is just ineffective. As a fullback we might as well stick an opposition shirt on him.
Gabby has filled in at left back when we were out of subs or the LB was red carded, I saw one of them, but cannot remember who against. He is a clean tackler when he wants to be, does as he is told by the CB (that could be a problem, who is to do the telling?). I would prefer him to Richardson who still cannot last 90 minutes.
OK OLL I respect your opinion. I have watched Gabby plenty of times and have seen him watching the ball and not anticipating, and not tracking back on the left side that he would end up defending in this scenario. To suggest that he tackles cleanly when he wants to is hardly a ringing endorsement though. I doubt Garde will play him there, but I predict it will all end in tears if he does. Of course he could be brilliant and I would be on here holding my hands up and accepting you are right. That’s not going to happen though 🙂 That’s a bottle of red wine speaking!
BTW I would play Richardson for 60-70 minutes rather than risk 90 minutes of Gabby there.
January can’t come quick enough,I’d bet he’s out for the season.hopefully REMI can do his magic on Richardson LOL.
Blimey, Savage writes a very good article shock;
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/robbie-savage-column-id-happily-6826012
And how average are England?
Give Savage his due, he’s bloody right, take a look at this England shower on now, cannot control a ball, miss kicking a ball and to crown it cannot find a man. Yes its only a friendly but its what Savage means no skills in English football.
Agreed, Bill.
Sadly, it reminds me of watching the Villa, the way we’ve given the ball away too easily, for far too long.
It’s crazy, as it’s the simple things, isn’t it?
Badger seen better games in the park’s,what we have here will ridicule us in France next year, as you said lacking the simple things in a game.
Bill, you’re absolutely right.
The difference in class was like watching a Pl side against a League 1 team – ecept that I find it hard to believe that even a third-division team would have been as embarassing in front of goal as England’s forwards were when they had opportunities to score.
Usual story – we can go through an entire qualification campaign fooling everybody with wins, but the moment we face a ‘proper’ team [even in a friendly], the wheels come off…
Spot on Ardent.
It’s embarrassing.
We are pathetic, and Hodgson just has no right to be England manager. We will be embarrassed in the Euros and then he will get sacked. Too late, and the same old crap will start up again. Reviews and committees before the next ridiculous appointment. The FA is a typical self serving old boy’s network. Not fit for purpose.
DSV – not sure whether Hodgson is any better or worse than the likes of Sven, McLaren, etc. ?
Sure, he’s boring, but ultimately I just don’t believe that England produce much in the way of good footballers these days, and obviously unlike a league manager he can’t just go out and buy foreign replacements. {& persuading Grealish to switch countries won’t change much either!}
Brilliant goal from Spain, that Sterling absolute greedy sod plus gave the ball away to give Spain the goal, every time he went forwards lost the ball .
180k a week only goes so far…
Nice one Marvin 🙂
I’ve just watched that game and find myself wondering how things have actually progressed since the 70’s/80’s.
And come to the conclusion that they haven’t, even with all the foreign input we have in the game.
In fact, I think we’ve gone backwards.
Players today are mostly fitter and faster than in those days but we don’t seem to produce guys with a ‘footballing brain’ in the same numbers.
Yet the media wet themselves over people like Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sterling, Sturridge, etc., and PL clubs pay tens of £millions for them [& massive wages].
I just don’t get what these over-hyped players are supposed to be good at, and with few very rare exceptions [e.g. Bale] most of the big European teams don’t go for them either!
Fitter and faster, but you forgot massively more injury-prone Ardent.
And wimps, to go with it.
I think you summed it up when you said you don’t get it.
I don’t think anyone else does either, really.
I think it’s similar to F1, where they have to have some British participants to maintain the British interest.
Otherwise, why would F1 bother being based in Britain, apart from the money?
All hype, in other words.
Yes, we do seem to see more injury-prone players, out for weeks/months, then back for a game or two and out again for another long stretch. In the past players would be away for a week and then come come back – it took a real career-threatening injury to put first-team players out of a side for any long period.
Remember the likes of Chris Nichol? Seem to recall he broke his nose several times playing for Villa and said he didn’t ever realise until after the games – and didn’t take a month off after each one – or Dion Dublin breaking his neck: wasn’t he back in the team just a couple of weeks later?
Today the careers are longer, but the actual game time is probably much lower than it used to be.
I think some of it may be down to the absence of any proper reserve teams now [Central League]; anyone ‘out’ doesn’t really get a chance to come back with a couple of games in a full ‘reserve’ side. Managers either risk them in the 1st team before they’re properly fit, or else won’t risk them – and the player spends more & more time ‘out’ and losing match-fitness.
Clark put in a very good preformance tonight for the Rep of Ireland . May it continue .
No major mistake?
Yes, that’s good.
Clark needs a run in the team playing alongside Richards – that could turn into a very good central pairing so whilst he (Clark) could play LB I don’t think overall it would be to the benefit of the side. Whilst Richardson is no ones first choice to be fair to him he does put a shift in and on his day can be effective.
Garde (I believe) was very successful at Lyon in identifying strengths in players which led to them playing in a different position and, as a result, becoming better players – I think their CM was one and is now a top player in France.
Hopefully we’ll get good news (or not awful news) on Amavi today.
Having said all that events in Paris yesterday put all this in perspective.
How do we know he didn’t make a mistake you couldn’t see sod all. 🙂
That’s right Ooha I taught the game was going to called of with the fog .
Lol
Wilkins has said he can’t see us stopping up;
http://sport.bt.com/former-aston-villa-assistant-cant-see-route-to-safety-91364016613065
Thanks for the vote of confidence, you useless POS 🙁
Good riddance, imo.
I’m sure everybody is fed up of these ex employees, who did sweet FA for the club whilst pocketing thousands, being continually asked to comment on our club. Lambert and McLeish are like a screen saver, they’re on the box that much and that twonk, Greg Evans at the Mail, must have them on speed dial as they seem to be the go to men for a doom and gloom article slagging the club off.
Wilkins may well be proven right in time but we’d be absolute certs for the drop if it was left to him and sherwood. We will not be bottom at Christmas – that’s my meditation chant while I’m in the lotus position. Hummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Fuck fester we will stay up now we have a decent coach.
Wilkins – just rent-a-quote now. Don’t see anyone offering him a manager’s post, even in the lower divisions.
So Wilkins finally admits it – he’s a complete failure. If Garde keeps us up it will be no thanks to Wilkins completely useless contribution.
Festers a useless bastard offered absolutely fuckall,him & Sherwood was like the blind leading the blind.Sherwood can now compare notes with his good buddy Ramsey how to be a complete fuckup.LOL long live REMI UTV
There are a lot of pundits and British manager looking for Garde to fail I think there is a bit of jealousy toward overseas managers coming to the EPL. I honestly think we have the right man to take us up the table. Wilkins you failed.
Too true D67
Media are pissed off he joined us they want him at a sky 4 club. Garde will do for us what pochetino did for saints
Hey Giddy – stop pussyfooting around and say what you really think :-). 🙂
😀
We’ve not had a manager at Villa for years, we’ve had nodding dogs that say I’m a manager, I’m inclined to think its going to change with this guy, I very much hope so.
Thank you giddy and hitch.
Is there any update on Amavi s injury.
I’ve heard/seen nothing mate
Now we have Wilkins saying the squad are/were fit enough;
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2015/11/14/ray-wilkins-comments-on-aston-villa-players-fitness/
When they patently aren’t, imo.
How can players who look fit to drop after an hour be fit enough?
The mind boggles and on the face of it, I’m wondering how Wilkins lasted 4 months at the Villa???
What Wilkins said is clearly stupid, they were dead after 60 minutes, half of them after the first half.
Then the writer claiming City deserved to win was hilarious. If Veretout and Gil decided to cross, we probably could’ve taken all 3 points ourselves. But bar a late flurry in which they hit the bar, they created near nothing.
https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/12241586_418525101680455_7708964081582166388_n.jpg?oh=487953804ec51f19f0566e015780a813&oe=56B0B73D
picture going around where the Brigada sit, a few broken seats.
Or so people claim they sit there.
Can’t we recall Sissokho from load – the lad is a solid defender.
Nope, he wasn’t registered in the 25 man squad so he being recalled doesn’t allow us to play him.
What about Bennett? Is that the same for him? He has to be a better option than Richardson!
Same for him, he wasn’t added to the 25 man squad. We’re stuck with Richardson or bringing up Kinsella.
See the Adebayor rumours have resurfaced!
Hitch I was just reading that in the brum mail mate,I thought he was Sherwoods love child??
He must speak French Giddy 🙂 🙂
DSVilla, I’ve just seen yor comment was blocked.
I’m trying out a new anti spam program and it seems it’s too agressive. Apologies.
I’ve turned it off, but can’t reinstate your comment.
Feel free to try again
Can’t even remember what it was. Was it the one asking Andrew if Joe Cole going out on loan meant we had a spare space in the 25 man squad?
Just read that Amavi is out for the season. Gutted for us and for him
Yes, that was the one mate.
I’ve just put an article up about Amavi. Gutted