Hooray, the new season starts today. I’ll be watching the Liverpool-Bournemouth game tonight, but more with a passing interest, while I wait for what could be a great game against Newcastle tomorrow.
Then again, it might prove to be a total damp squib, as many first games tend to look similar to pre-season friendlies, where both teams can be poor.
The thought of a Villa-Newcastle fixture though, is always one I look forward to, as it does tend to produce something, even if it was our first game 5-1 tonking against them two seasons back.
So what do we know about our squad?
First off is that Morgan Rogers will be available, as he’s been training since the early part of the week. That’s great news for me as he’s exactly the sort of player I like, the sort who runs at defenders and terrifies them.
On the downside, Ross Barkley and Andres Garcia are out. I’m not sure how much of a loss that is, to be honest, as it seems Emery isn’t keen on Garcia and Barkley, as much as he’s done okay, isn’t really a mainstay anyway.
Should we be concerned that Emi Martinez is suspended for this game after he blocked a goalscoring chance in that infamous Man U final game of last season? Given there was much talk of him leaving in this window, maybe not so much, as Bizot seems to be at least a reasonable backup goalie.
And then of course, it seems a deal for Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle has been done and dusted, but for some reason it hasn’t been announced yet. I don’t understand why. Do they think the fans will be upset by such last minute news? Maybe, but he was always one to go and it’s been spoken about for a while now, so it’s not like it’s a surprise. We need the money, simple.
Anyway, there’s no chance he will be playing for either side.
As for Newcastle, well the good news there is that Alexander Isak most likely won’t be playing after basically saying he won’t play for Newcastle again. I’ve seen stories that the chances of him staying at the club are increasing, but I wouldn’t bank on it. The club won’t want a seriously unhappy player and they will agree a deal with Liverpool for him. Is he the best striker in the world at the moment? Possibly.
The only player not available for them is Joe Willock.
New signing Malick Thiaw is available and might get a runout, but he’s only been there for two days.
And then, what to think?
Well, we have a really good record at home against them recently. Much better than I had in my head and apparently we’ve beaten them in five out of the last six times we’ve played them at Villa Park.
Which has actually changed my thinking a bit.
I was going to take the easy option and predict a 2-2 draw.
But now I’m inclined to think that we can win this. The bookies have us as slight favourites too, which surprises me.
Mind you, with the serious threat of Isak being out, our chances are definitely improved.
It’s got to be 2-1 to the Villa.
UTV!
Before you all hang yourselves from the lamp post outside VP just remember the Sky 6 includes Manure and Spurs, who dropped completely out of the top 6 places. Spurs fluked a CL place. Things do change, often because of hasty sackings and hasty appointments of managers.
Villa have the team to compete, but the manager needs to be quicker with subs for under-performance. I think our buys have been good except for Onana who IMO has never looked like a £50M player, nor did he when playing for Everton.
I think Emery looked at Onana as a player he could seriously improve.
I personally think it will come, as he does look ok at times.
RSS, I can’t help being able to spot a player mate.
Out of interest, did you used to be critical of our Gary when he won the same award?
And the way things are going, any decent player will be just passing through.
I really think if Emery can’t keep us competitive this season, he’ll be off.
You mean Mr Shaw
Div 1 league championship winner?
European Cup winner ?
European Super Winner ?
Bravo Award (Awarded to the Most Outstanding Young Footballer in Europe): 1982?
59 goals in 165 games?
Never in the same breath as Chesty.
Rogers can’t help what’s not been won.
Your constant criticism and derogatory comments about him, when he’s been valued at £100 mill plus and just won that award grate on me and that’s the last time I’ll discuss him with you.
You’re obviously wrong, but hey ho.
Criticism and derogatory comments?
Matt Cash wring any bells?
Think a long hard look in the mirror is required Badger.
I thought this forum was all about opinions not personal mud slinging?
I’ve took proper umbrage at your remarks.
(Ring)
You constantly do and that’s the problem that you don’t see. You make it personal.
Conversation over. I’m sick of butting heads with you. Nobody else does it. Just you.
I have two choices. You have one.
Emery off to where exactly? He’s already been burnt twice at so-called ‘big clubs’ mainly because there were too many people with a finger in the pie and he didn’t have full control over the team. At Villa he has the luxury of total control and with his own people in the most important posts. There are few clubs who could guarantee that and all of those clubs would be in the same boat as Villa is in now.
Personally I think we will be competitive this season and really see no reason for the current tide of doom and gloom that seems to be going around at the moment. All is going to plan with players leaving as we knew they would and, as for incomings, we still have until September 1st to make that happen.
Cheer up, Emery loves a challenge and so should we.
I’m not particularly downbeat, 1874. I’m far too pragmatic for that.
Off to where? I’d expect there would be 20 clubs in Europe willing to promise him everything if he wants it.
My point is even if he has all that control, what’s the point if he feels he’s hit the limit?
We all know to get to the top level costs hundreds of millions more than we’ve spent.
But we can’t spend it. Our revenue is going to be massacred this year and next, so it’s only going to get worse.
I predict if we don’t come close to CL or even win the Europa (I had to check which one we’re in) he will be gone, onto another project.
And that will be disastrous, when he takes the team with him.
F***** ‘ell.
‘I’m not downbeat, I’m too pragmatic for that’
Blimey Badger – then you proceed to outline a doom and gloom scenario that’s pessimistic even for you. 🙂
I’d hate to see you in a bad mood, if that’s you’re good one Badger!
The only reason I could see Unai leaving is for better weather and food!!!
What, like Spain, Italy, France, Greece, even Turkey then?
You’re not helping youself with that line Bum Bum 🙂
Oh please do stop blowing smoke up his arse, you’ll give him an hard on.
I’ve had it with you.
Pissed up again?
Don’t come begging this time, because you’re done on here.
I’ve accepted it as the reality it is Hitch, no more, no less.
When you feel you have nowhere to go, the last thing you do is stay.
At least that’s how I’ve always looked at things.
Who knows? It might be that we have a stonking season, walk into the CL and my comments will look ridiculous.
Or as Barry Norman used to say, “Or maybe not”.
Well, it looks like young Matthew is the next out the door. Will the last one out please turn out the light, as things are tight and we have to keep the bills down. Are NSWE both happily married? I’m getting flashbacks of 2009.
If Cash has to go I’ll be quite happy, as long as Emery knows who his replacement is.
It’s total rubbish though, imo.
There is no replacement 😏 We can’t re-invest! Maybe that’s why Emery looked at the youngster Rowe. It reminds me of the time the Tories got into power after Gordon Brown and said there was a note saying there is no money left.
It was the other way around. Labour left the pot empty. I remember it well.
You do realise that’s a total fallacy?
It’s an old civil service joke.
As for a replacement, I couldn’t see what was wrong with Garcia?
Quite strange how he hasn’t had a look in, but I’d go with him.
Same as Malen. How has he not got more starts?
It’s why I actually think Asensio might be a mistake.
I’m not seeing how Malen breaks into the Watkins/Guessand/Rogers mix, when Asensio can sit just behind any of those two out of three.
My sense of humour has been muted due to PSR 🙂
Dougie to forest what a joke why didn’t we get him back ffs
Yep.
Never go back – isn’t that the wise saying?
He was excellent with us for one season and he couldn’t even get into the Juventus team! I liked Dougie but his time has been and gone!
I feel Emery, Monchi have a couple of tricks up their sleeve so come on lads, still 12 days left in the window – let’s wait until 1st September before we pass judgement.
I hope you’re right Hitch but the talk is that we can’t re-invest. I think the main reason is the USFA SCR rules where we need to reduce our wage percentage from 90% to 70% over 3 seasons. This is why the Asensio link doesn’t make sense with his undoubtedly high wages, which he won’t be prepared to have reduced too much.
At the end of the day. If we have to decimate our squad In order to achieve this, we won’t be good enough to qualify for Europe anyway.
My point entirely Holte.
If we don’t get CL, let alone Europa, which is the absolute minimum, we’ve had it, imo.
I personally wouldn’t be looking at Asensio. His wages are going to take too big a chunk of the Ramsey money.
Fwiw I think the bigger challenge is the requirement for a positive transfer balance on the date Villa have to register the List A players.
We’ve managed to get a load of wages off the books and I’d put a bet on Digne and Mings having reduced their wages on the contract extensions and Asensio will also reduce his wage demands for a three year contract with Emery.
Have faith, I reckon Emery / Monchi and NSWE have got this.
Meanwhile, Bailey seems to have suffered an injury in his first training session at Roma;
https://football-italia.net/bailey-suffer-injury-1st-roma-training-session/
Poor guy is made of crisps.
That would break me, even with the big pay packet. He must be gutted.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c0kz16d80kro
The PSR issue is seeping into the mainstream, for what it’s worth.
If Ramsey’s transfer wakes up those idiots who are responsible for the PSR regulations then it will be worth it in the long run.
The PSR regs are clearly not fit for purpose and the only way to get them changed if the regulators (rather than an EPL club) put forward those changes as part of the licence relating to membership of the EPL.
IMHO if the regulator propses the changes then the clubs are bound to accept them.
We can but hope – however as the regulators are good at mimicking Ostriches and a bucket of sand I wouldn’t hold your breath!
Arsenal beat Spuds to Eze. Poor Spuds fans!!!!!! Why aren’t they protesting against Levy every week????
Maybe we can lose the Crystal Palace Fear Theory now.
And maybe the Rogers to Arsenal rumours will go away now…
Jackson not in the Chelsea squad…80 million asking price. I know Unai rates him and Jackson has huge respect for Unai, but surely not? Unless a big sale is lined up. Watkins or Rogers. Hold on to your arses…
Jackson at £80m! No no no!
Links for Rogers to Spurs now they haven’t got Eze. Don’t be surprised if Chelsea go after Rogers too with Jackson as makeweight.
Random one that’s just ‘popped in there.’ I mentioned Tyler Dibling at the end of last season. Very much a Grealish and Rogers style player with the way he carries the ball with excellent close control. He’s only 19. I think this kid is destined for big things and apparently Everton have bid with Spurs interested now they’ve lost Eze. At 45 million ish and practically guaranteed to make a profit in 5 + years, shouldn’t Villa be all over this rather than 60 + for Jackson.
If Jackson comes in, Ollie will be gone, probably to Newcastle. That would make sense in terms of age with Jackson 5 years younger than Watkins.
Reported that Villa are exploring a loan deal for Jackson – £60m seems to be the price which we can’t afford without selling another major asset. Chelsea might be up for a loan as, allegedly, they’ve already sold players to the tune of £250m!
£45m for a 19 year old – not for me that.
I’d be happy with a loan (for either) but surely a higher priority is a right sided CB?
Centre back is a very good point. I almost forgot. Carlos (Disasi) has yet to be replaced. If they’re relying on Bogarde…
Dibling for JJ and Leroy. 2 out, 1 in.
Ollie is 30 in December; Jackson has only just turned 24, younger than the age we signed Ollie.
Good point BFR.
P.s. the 3rd kit is crap. Somebody tell them ‘less is more.’ A waste of our first trefoil shirt.
I can see Isak to Liverpool, Triggers Ollie to Newcastle and finally Jackson to Villa.
If that’s the case, as reliable as Ollie is, if money truly is the be all and end all in football now, then I could handle it.
As some have said, I think Jackson under Unai could be equally as effective as Ollie but there will be a costly bedding in period unless we get lucky. It would feel like the closest thing to buying a younger model of Ollie for sure and I would argue his natural ability is better. Take nothing away from what Ollie has done in a Villa shirt , he’s been remarkable.
All correct, Tom.
The sole benefit of replacing Ollie is that a more traditional centre forward might be easier for the rest of our attack to play with. That type of forward is happy to have a big CH right behind him and still jostle for the ball, winning more duels and laying off. He can also play as one of a pair especially when the opponents are thought to have a weak 2nd CH. Ollie wants to have the ball played much wider than where he is standing, have a race with the CB to collect it and head for goal. Ollie does not like, and is not good at, being part of a striker pair.
Think, how often have you seen Ollie pass the ball forward to a colleague?
It’s simpler, OLL. Ollie still commands a fee and is 30 in December. And Villa have to ‘wheel and deal.’ It’s not tactical; it’s simply business.
Good points including BFR’s on the wheeling and dealing.
Has Emery decided that he wants to play with two up front and Watkins doesn’t fit into that (Emery’s tried it before without success)
So to buy Jackson and pair him with Guessand or Malen with Rogers and Asensio as providers then logically the deal would be to sell Watkins.
Realistically what fee will he command and who would be his main suitors? Add to that we have to agree a sale and purchase back to back probably with two clubs in a period of 10 days – tricky.
Anything between 40 and 50 million for Ollie, in my opinion. He’s still high end PL striker and will be for the foreseeable. He loses a bit of value as whoever gets him won’t get their money back. But he’s got 3-4 top years left in think. Top professional.
On the (potential) change of tactics, Unai knows you have to tweak every year to prevent other coaches from figuring you out. So playing two up top with two wide presents an opportunity…
Watkins was never able to play with another; it wasn’t just Duran and his ego. Remember the dilemma Gerrard had with Ings, who was an excellent centre forward btw.
OLL, spot on. You have to play on to him.
Which is fine when you’re playing forward.
He’s exactly what any club needs, but we don’t make the most of his uses and play backwards, leaving him in no mans land.
I honestly question what Unai is thinking at times, especially when we’ve previously proven that we can attack quicker than most.
New 3rd kit is one of the worst ever
Won’t be getting that monstrosity
I liked it at first sight Brian, but you’re right.
It’s more adverts than shirt.
On Jackson (if it happens), I recently saw a feature on him on Sky Sports where he spoke candidly about his footballing journey. He was full of praise for Unai and basically said he taught him everything he knew (to that point). It’s no secret he wants to work with Emery again. The feeling is mutual, as if I recall correctly from the feature, Unai tried to sign him when he first arrived at Villa but Jackson got injured and it didn’t happen. Maybe now is the time…
Reports are suggesting Jackson is Emery’s top target and, allegedly, he wants to link up with Emery again – presumably because he feels Emery can improve him further.
It does seem to be gaining traction – just have to wait and see what pans out.
If Newcastle don’t nick him, Hitch.
Emery being able to improve him or money?
And then, don’t forget Newcastle have CL footy.
Onana also leaving? 🤔 🫤
I’ll be amazed if he is BFR.
I think Emery’s comments about 2 players for each position is the way we’re going. It totally explains Moreno going, for example.
Have you read about the ‘bar fight’ at Marseille between Rabot and Rowe after their game against Rennes.
Well De Zerbi did ask for a more aggressive approach!
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer team 🙂
“The incident occurred after the French club suffered a 1-0 defeat at Rennes in their opening Ligue 1 fixture, with the hosts scoring in stoppage time despite being reduced to 10 men in the 31st minute.”
You reap what you sow, Roberto.
Both on the transfer list as a result. I hear WWE have made offers 🙂
Both transfer listed. That’s the way to do it.
Potter first to be sacked. I was sure of it before the season even started. But now it’s nailed on, surely…
Oh my days, I’ve just seen the goals. How many goals from corners??? The goalie looks like he should beaking coffees at Starbucks. 🤦♂️
I do believe he was Southampton’s GK last season!
Leicester, Hitch. Mads Hermasen. Nightmare home debut. Doesn’t get much worse.
Ah, thanks BFR – wires definitely crossed.
Shouldn’t we have a new post before every game? I know as a club that there is very little interesting stuff going on other than the mass exodus of players leaving 😏
We should Holte, but I didn’t have a clue what to say.
Unfortunately, I find Brentford away totally uninspiring.
It’s why I’ve always been keen for others to write something, as I’m running out of ideas, but there’s no interest there either.
Tbh, I’ve been contemplating not bothering anymore.
I feel I’m out of ideas and everything is too samey.
The site needs a new direction, I think, but we’ll see.
I’ll probably change my mind once the season gets going.
Hopefully I’ll have something to write about after the game.
E. Martínez
L. Digne
T. Mings
Pau Torres
M. Cash
B. Kamara
A. Onana
M. Rogers
Y. Tielemans
J. McGinn (c)
O. Watkins
Subs
M. Bizot
L. Bogarde
E. Buendía
B. Burrowes
I. Maatsen
D. Malen
S. Proctor
T. Rowe
E. Guessand
Having watched Spurs beat Citeh, I think we are delusional to believe they won’t finish above us this season. Sarr was excellent for them and they certainly didn’t miss Maddison.
Unfortunately Badger, I agree with you that there is nothing coming out of VP to inspire the fans. Only the release of the latest shirt or training gear to fleece more money from them.
Malen and Guessand are on the bench with only Martinez and Torres coming in. Defeat against a club who are one of the favourites for relegation is unthinkable. Anything but a win is unthinkable! Why is it then that I don’t feel confident?
Beat me to it Gerry. I was just about to post the same.
Very much as expected.
Nothing ever changes – Torres looking weak but again losing the ball and being caught on the break
Utter dogshite! Torres is a terrible defender. He can’t even play a long pass anymore which is supposed to be his strength. Emery might be on the bookies favourites list for the sack if we don’t strengthen. I’m well pissed off with the club.
And Kamara off injured.
Only one way this is going now – sad to say