Sorry for the terrible title, but it’s as good as anything else I can think of.
I’ve seen it said a few times over the last couple of months that we’re on the edge of hammering someone, but you could have fooled me and I don’t know what game they’re watching. In fact we look more like the team that could get hammered, with our defence, in my opinion.
Not today though and I’ll be watching this one with some interest. Firstly, because we only knocked the Irons out of the cup a couple of weeks ago. The big questions are was the reason they lost last time because Potter hadn’t had any time to work with them and has he managed to improve what wasn’t a great side?
And then there’s Donyell Malen, who, when you consider we got £20 million plus £3 million in add ons for Philogene, was a bargain at an initial fee of £21 million, rising to £27.7 million. That’s for a Dutch international and it seems to be a really excellent purchase and a great bit of business by Monchi and the Villa. Or is he just somewhat over-hyped and we’ve just got him at fair value? I suspect not.
Let’s hope playing on the right (which I’ve no doubt is where he will play) proves more fruitful for him than it has for a fair few players over the last few years. The position seems to destroy players for some reason and it’s a bit of a coincidence that I believe our biggest weakness is who will no doubt be playing behind him; IE the right back.
Regardless, Donyell has talked about how he wants to get goals and assists, but has recently talked about how training has involved defending. And this is the part I’m interested in. How well does he track back and help out? It took Bailey ages to learn to work back, after all and I hope it’s not the case here, because as much as we want that attacking part of the game, defence is equally important in my eyes.
I believe the Dutchman has decent pace too and that’s something we sorely need.
Squad news and nothing has changed. McGinn is training with the squad, but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready yet. Onana is still training on his own and is obviously miles away, as is Pau. Ross Barkley still isn’t ready either
As for West Ham, they have central defender Konstantinos Mavropanos out having been red carded last week for two yellows. Fellow central defender Jean-Clair Todibo is also a big doubt. Jared Bowen isn’t ready and it’s the same with Crysencio Summerville. Michail Antonio and Niclas Fullkrug are definitely out.
Am I the only one who’s never heard of most of those players? Whatever, it sounds good for us defensively and attack-wise.
After hearing of West Ham’s woes, I’m encouraged. They beat Fulham in their previous game but lost 2-0 to Crystal Palace at home in their last game. It doesn’t seem Potter’s had enough time to change much and given our home advantage, I have to go for a Villa win. I’m going to stick my neck out and say I think Malen will get a goal too. Perhaps that’s wishful thinking, but I do see goals. If we can’t take advantage of a West Ham side without their two best defenders and a weakened attack, well…….
So what do I think the score will be, then?
I’m tempted to say 3-1. But I think a repeat of that previous 2-1 win is more likely.
I’ll take either.
UTV!
I expected a replacement CB to be with us almost immediately after Carlos signed but now Mings is out for who knows how long, there seems to be no one coming in.
Likewise with Buendia going out on loan, where is the strategy? What’s the plan? I’m getting very concerned about the rest of the season if we don’t act in the next few days. I think we need 3 players minimum!
Season over if nothing happens. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking and Villa’s pants are down…
See Emery’s press conference:
” Mings has a small injury, but I think he will need some days more to be ready to play.”
“”We will train this afternoon, but Matty Cash is not available, he is going to be out for three or four weeks”
We need some experienced defenders!
Marco Asensio looks a fantastic player but with wages of €279,808 per week and contracted to PSG until June 2026 can anyone see this one happening?
Simply, No.
Not at that pay-rate.
It would blow our wage structure & PSR compliance out of the water.
PSG may be happy to pay some of his wages just to get shot? ManU are going to have to do the same with old misery guts.
Suppose it could be done within our wage structure, less money but on longer contract?
I believe he was on that huge deal at PSG due to the free transfer, his last year at Real he was on around £158000 per week but in saying all that there’s still the little problem of that 70000k per week bonus?
Maubd with Ascensio we’re trying to do a loan deal with PSG picking up a chunk of his wages.. I think, however, it might be noise with Felix our main target.
He can play as a 9 or a 10 which gives us real options up front.
If anyone can get him back to his best it’s Emery
Now being reported we want Rashford – just no.
Age is good. Talent is undoubted. BUT.
From what I’ve read in the last few weeks, it would take Rashford the rest of this season just to get back to full match-fitness.
So, again, No.
Danny Drinkwater mark II, including the emotional/psychological baggage. A monumental risk if we go there. He’s been at United since he was 7 – it will take a long time to adjust to any move – time we don’t have. Take him on loan, by all means, but DO NOT waste any Duran money on him! For what it’s worth I used to rate him. I remember the 2018 World Cup and I thought he should’ve been starting ahead of the likes of Lingard and Loftus-Cheek, but there you go.
Also widely reported that Watkins wants to stay at Villa – who weren’t about to sell him in any case.
On the face of it there seems to be huge mutual respect between Watkins and Emery.
I get the feeling Watkins gets over anxious about proving himself when he’s another 9 challenging him. So, I hope, with Duran going, as with Ings departure, we’ll see a new rejuvenated Watkins.
Good point about Ings. But that’s something Ollie needs to deal with if true. He’s at a big club where there has to be competition for places, and that doesn’t mean an inferior back-up. He’s proven himself so at his age, there’s no need to have an inferiority complex – if true. I think he just puts too much pressure on himself due to being a top professional and wanting to produce very high standards – but that ends up being counter-productive. Sports psychologist needed, perhaps?
I thought there was already one at VP?
Needs to have a chat, in which case.
Villa’s app announcing Duran’s departure made me laugh.
“Everyone at Aston Villa would like to wish Jhon all the best in the next step of his professional career”.
Not far off – shut the door on the way out.
Yes it certainly had that vibe about it didn’t it.
I think it might be a case that Emery has done just about everything he can to keep his head with him and do what’s right morally towards a young player whilst he was under his management. I just feel Duran could want something different wherever he ends up, just strikes me as that character. No doubt a potentially world class talent in terms of his finishing. I wonder if he does have a professional 90 minutes in for 10 games running?
We got what we needed and he won’t be scoring against us any time soon playing over there.
I think we have options and I’d like to think we already have something up our sleeve.
All that said, does break my heart a little bit seeing him hold that shirt and we will never forget that goal against Munich. For what it’s worth, he did seem to give a lot of time to the kids when warming up. Remember watching pass the ball for a good 25 minutes with a group before kick off the year before last and I will say it was lovely to see the time he gave them.
Just had a butchers at Al-Nassr FC (Al-Raed vs Al-Nassr highlights) oh my days the standard is poor.
Just how a 21 year old thinks he’s going to improve, mature and become the finished article in a league rated 16th in the world is beyond?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Qulfwi7LA0
Unfair, Sid. The club have made a massive profit on him, which means he must have produced in the short time he had at the club and the even shorter time on the field of play. Where would we be in the league without his winning goals? Would we have gotten through the CL league phase without him? Who has given us most entertainment and excitement this season? Yes, he’s got a big gob and his antics are less than mature, but who wasn’t a gobby big-balls 21? And that’s with barely anything going for you, never mind a top Premier League footballer. I can’t imagine he was pushing for a move to Saudi. He wanted to play; you can’t blame him for that. Doesn’t that show a love of the game rather than money? He wanted to play and believed he was good enough to be a starter. Nothing wrong with that, in my view. The Saudis bid; Villa accepted – because they wanted to sell. And he left. Purely business. Can you imagine if he refused to leave? We’d be going nuts. Anyway, what is now of most concern is that we’ve lost a huge goal threat that has earned countless points this season and that needs replacing NOW, not in the summer. We’ve already seen the impact of losing Diaby and Luiz. If we don’t replace him (and Buendia), it’s basically Lerner all over again.
I hope he scores hundreds of goals, makes billions of pounds and then comes back to Europe in his prime to tear it up. Good luck, lad. Just wind you neck in a bit and let your left foot (and your head and right one) do the talking.
That’s a bit naive BFR, thanks for the memories and all that but let’s be honest, he’s been angling for a move since the West spam debacle and then to suggest he hasn’t gone for the money?
Come on mate.
The word is his salary is either 5x or 10x what he was earning at Villa (tax free) depending on who you believe – and no team in Europe were going to match that and pay over £70m for a 21 year old – the memories of Jao Felix’s transfer costs (and losses) as a young player are etched into everyone’s memory; then add PSR into the equation.
He’s gone for the money – end of – and I say good luck to him.
Thanks for the memories – Jhon Duran will forever be Captain Chaos.
UTMV
Also heard some remarks about his entourage and how they’ll all be in with their snouts in the Saudi trough.
He has been ill advised and Emery did what he could to keep him but, personally, I’m glad he’s gone. We don’t need any disturbances in the dressing room with such massive games coming up.
As for his goal contribution might Ollie not have scored more anyway with more minutes? Must have been galling for him to run his legs off for an hour or more softening up the defence only for someone else to reap the benefit.
If we can get someone like Felix in then IMO we will have a better squad.
Let’s hope so. By the same token, though, why do we want Felix after he rejected us in the summer???
Because he is a top quality player and Unai wants him. Unlike with Duran, Ollie and Felix would be able to play together and that’s what gives him added value.
Good answer, 1874. End product is the order of the day, though. Can Felix – if he comes – provide it? Don’t forget that ‘Coughing’ also came with unlimited talent. The ‘magician’, allegedly. Scoff, tut, scoff scoff, tut, roll eyes, shake head, slap forehead, scream into pillow, curse, puff cheeks, grit teeth… (you get the idea)…
Anyway, IF he comes, I’ll reserve judgement until there’s something shiny on the Villa table at the end of the season.
1874 if there’s any truth in that it’s really sad, a load of sycophantic clingers on milking their cash cow.
That sort of thing never ends well.
I know what you’re saying, Ron, but he wanted a move because he wanted to play. He believed he was good enough and he believed he’s better than Watkins. Nothing wrong is believing in your own ability, especially when you’re producing the evidence on a regular basis – despite very limited playing time. The Everton goal is comfortably the goal of the season and there are very very few strikers in the world who would have the nads to even attempt that, never mind execute it to perfection in a pressure situation like he did. How do you replace that level of talent and goal-scoring ability? Niceties aside, that’s what it boils down to for me. How do Aston Villa replace Duran, and what he brought to the team?
No doubt the kid had talent in spades but was (IMO) nowhere near the finished article and to truly become the best you need to play and compete with the best,week in, week out and that, I believe isn’t going to happen where he’s chosen to now ply his trade?
If he was serious about becoming a top top player, this (IMO) is not a good move for the lad.
He obviously, for what ever reason, happy at VP?
There is probably truth in the comment that he’s been poorly advised and I would suspect Emery tried to advise him differently. But Emery said himself – if a player wants to leave then he (Emery) will not stand in his way.
If we weren’t constrained by the idiotic financial rules then we could have afforded to keep Duran but, in all honesty, playing 20 minutes a game is not adding to the overall squad strength – given the relatively small squad at our disposal.
The income from the sale will dispel any lingering PSR doubts for this season and allow us to bring in new players which will help to strengthen / balance the squad for the challenges ahead.
We all despaired when Jack went but how many would have him back and the income we earned from the sale helped to keep our club within the rules .
My only plea is that we use the money from the Duran sale more wisely.
Over to you Mr Emery and Monchi.
BFR
Interesting but I stand by my point.
Duran cost £17m and had Emery as his coach / mentor. It is clear he is not mature and has hangers on (Dan Badell). His actions wanting Chelsea and then giving the Hammers cross, never showed someone who viewed their stay as long term at the Villa. He clearly tried Emery’s patience to the point that they wanted rid. Rumours by those in the know are that he was disruptive.
Personally his attitude towards us was more Steve Hodge / Fabian Delph / Alpay Ozalan. Villa did a great move – got him to sign a contract to increase his resale value. And then sold him.
I trust Emery and Monchi to take the money and make us even stronger.
I’m with you on that Sid , I’d lay a bet he was disruptive at the club and Emery could see his heart was on money not games, Emery has plans ,Duran was showing decent and Emery had enough of his temperament so took the obvious. I wish him well the club comes first .