KaKa

I am now convinced that there is absolutely nothing worse than having a terrible manager in charge that everyone outside of the club makes excuses for.

Nothing makes football more intolerable and impossible to enjoy IMO. It is the absolute worst. Aston Villa have a decent amount of money, good players, a supportive owner ... and they just can't get the manager right. 

They are going to suffer so much because of the Gerrard appointment man. Unless the club is honest enough with themselves to sack him and deal with the inevitable media outcry and backlash.

Just now, Happinesstan said:

Yeah. I think more of a free role in support of Wilson, while he's perfecting his craft. Finding positions in the box that Willock should currently be finding.

Yes, that's how I see it too. 

1 hour ago, Happinesstan said:

Starting Line up for the benefit of TV fans:

 

ASM            Wilson          Isak

    Joelinton Bruno Almiron 

Targett  Botman  Schar  Trippier

                    Pope

 

How it works in practice:

 

ASM          Wilson Isak       Almiron/Trippier

Targett Joelinton  Bruno Trippier/Almiron

              Botman   Schar

                     Pope

Exactly. Nicely put

There'll be a lot more fluidity to the way it works. The starting positions won't be fixed and rigid ones.

13 minutes ago, Shak said:

 

Think given our business in summer it's a safe bet that Isak will play off Wilson quite a bit this season. Could see it being the go to strategy against teams we're expecting to dominate and maybe having Almiron off Isak against tougher opposition... in theory, at least. I'd imagine much will depend on who's available game to game.

 

What do you think his long term best position is though? Do you think long term we'll be looking to buy someone like Diaby to play off Isak or a top CF for Isak to play off?

Long term he'll definitely be the main man upfront IMO. He's a modern day complete forward.

However, in the interim, he'll also be used in creative ways alongside Wilson to allow us to have our most talented players on the pitch together.

It won't be too dissimilar to the way Howe used Josh King, who played as a lead striker at times, as a second striker off Wilson, as well as in a wide forward role.

24 minutes ago, B-more Mag said:

Interesting tidbit from that article above: " Interestingly, Nickson even travelled to Brazil to watch Santos’ 2-1 loss to Flamengo in July to track Angelo Gabriel, a versatile 17-year-old forward, who Newcastle continue to monitor."

Yes, this was reported back in July.

Even more interesting is that by the time the January window opens he will be 18 years old and so we'll be able to sign him then.

There were also some reports that we later on went to see Palmeiras and Sau Paulo and had an eye on Danilo the Palmeiras DM.

On 31/08/2022 at 10:27, WillDanceForChocolate said:

Maybe I can shed a little extra light on the AFCB / Parker situation.

 

Last time in the PL we had a tilt at building a PL squad. All good fun. A series of unfortunate events conspired, including Howe burning himself out, players refusing to play, the Covid break coming at a bad time, goal line technology failing, crazy injury list, and more ending in relegation. Whatever. Down is down.

 

Up to then the owner had been funding to the tune of, relative to our size in the football world, monumental amounts. However, the relegation meant he wanted to change the strategy. Can't really object to that.

 

The planned training complex was put on hold, lots of senior pros out of contract were released and, over two Championship seasons, we sold about £125m of players but only spent about £15m replacing them in order to get us back in an even financial keel.

 

The new model was clear for all to see. We'd spend within our means and, if we went back up, restart the off-field investment to build up other aspects of the club. Always think long term on and off the pitch.

 

Parker knew this when he came. Yet he signed a bunch of players in Jan but now wants (wanted) to sell some of them saying he only signed them to get us up and they aren't good enough for the PL. He let us give them 3.5 year contracts.

 

That's so far from how we want to run the club it's crazy.

 

Meanwhile, since promotion was confirmed work on the training complex has resumed. This will restrict spending. He knew this.

 

Despite that he kept repeatedly moaning to the media about wanting more money to spend.

 

Then, nobody expected anything from the last three games but the way he reacted after Saturday was beyond the pale. To the national media he was demanding more players. To the local press he was saying he expected us to get worse results this season.

 

What do you think that says to the players? All great managers make players feel good about themselves so they can play almost beyond their ability. Parker dropped a bomb in the dressing room, seemingly looking to achieve the opposite.

 

He did his job last season, no complaints there. However, it's pretty telling that you'll struggle to find an AFCB fan unhappy he has gone. Not because we lost to three of the top teams. Not because we lost 9-0. Because he had no interest in the long term vision to build the club and instead only wanted to disparage the players and the owner to try and make whatever happens this season not his fault.

 

I've had 24 hours to think on it and, sad to say, it's good riddance.

 

Also, if there's truth in some of the stories now leaking out he really had become toxic in his attitude to the club.

Yeah, that's messed up. I found it hard to believe he wouldn't have been made aware of how the club wanted to function. Very poor from him. He's got talent, but he's too impatient and disruptive when he doesn't get his way.

14 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

The rest of the league are doing us a favour, there is more value and quality abroad imo. 

100%.

At least now we know and can stop wasting time dealing with them.

Focus the scouting and background checks on more targets abroad.

No, I just can't be bothered right now. I feel like his style of play and positional versatility has been discussed more than enough. Maybe I'll dig it up later.

All I will say for certainty is he can play off the front man as a second striker or as a wide forward with freedom to find space and get on the ball, as well as make runs in behind.

3 hours ago, Adam P said:

 

That didn't answer the question to be fair so maybe you have elsewhere. If Wilson is fit, does he replace Almiron? If he plays off Wilson as you suggest above, do we then need to change the system or not? As playing 'off the front man' is not Almiron's role. Or does he go wide and then also put the defensive shift that in that we expect from Almiron. Reasonable questions iyam and having read the transfer thread, i am pretty sure repetition isn't frowned upon. 

Think I discussed this somewhere else already regarding him playing that right side in more of a free role, and not necessarily having to cover the full back. 

Rather just wait for them to be paired together. The conversation feels like it's just going round in circles.

1 hour ago, gdm said:

Wonder if he’ll retract his comment calling the people saying our business was done were bedwetters

Nah, no retraction, because the window wasn't closed when you were all crying and soiling your pants.

1 hour ago, Sean said:

Has anyone checked Kaka is OK?

 

Feels weird not seeing him post in here every 2 minutes.

Um ... the window is closed man.

Kelechi is going to make something happen.

Cassemiro with a terrible pass to give the ball away in the first place just then.

Wow 

Leicester don't get people in the box.

Think Brendan has lost it. Just wants pretty passing at the expense of everything else.

Oh and the continued disrespect to Kelechi is ridiculous. Why no one ever tries to sign him I will never understand.

42 minutes ago, GeordieDazzler said:

They lost 14 players from last season through being out of contract/loans ended. So in that context it’s not totally mental. 
 

Also many of the higher earners are on very short contracts - 1 or 2 years so likely cover by parachute payments should it all go tits up.

No matter how often this is said, it will still be ignored.

1 minute ago, Elliottman said:

We were on the verge on relegation 9 Months ago man ? Europe can wait, it’s coming, what’s the rush?! 

You know you're wasting your time right?

1 minute ago, WarrenBartonCentrePartin said:

 

Top left on Mac m8.

Perfect, bye.

Just now, WarrenBartonCentrePartin said:

Aye we're done.

Just now, KaKa said:

 

Hey man, just hit the x in the top right corner and we'll catch up with you for the game this weekend.

1 minute ago, Nine said:

Time to close this thread til Jan boys

Hey man, just hit the x in the top right corner and we'll catch up with you for the game this weekend.

7 minutes ago, Kanji said:

Zakaria gave it a nice go eh? Half a season.  
 

@KaKa I would have loved him here

Devastated man ... apparently we enquired, but looks like Chelsea have gazumped us man. Damn.

5 hours ago, Adam P said:

How do Isak and Wilson fit in the same team? Looked like an out and out striker last night. Replaces Almiron in our first 11? 

You should see him playing off another front man, dropping into holes picking up the ball and running at players with it. He is just as devastating doing that, especially as he has a lethal long range shot.

Anyway, tired of discussing his versatility and all around game. Folks will see it for themselves soon enough.

2 minutes ago, Nine said:

Come on just give us a crumb, one little crumb. (Not vague bollocks crumbs though).

Chukwueze.

2 minutes ago, Kanji said:

damn I really wanted us to sign him!

Same ...